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Glite Dictionary
to chisel in

to chisel in

7.7
Interrupt someone who is speaking by joining their conversation without waiting
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈtʃɪzəl ɪn/
  • Informal
translation icon : interrumpir
  • It's rude to chisel in when others are talking without waiting for a pause.

Examples

  • She didn't hesitate to chisel in with her opinion during the heated debate.

  • Don't chisel in while I'm talking!

  • No one likes it when you chisel in on their private conversation.

  • She chiseled in with her opinion unexpectedly.

  • It's considered impolite to chisel in during someone else's presentation.

  • He quickly decided to chisel in to offer his thoughts on the topic being discussed.

  • Whenever I share a funny story, my brother tends to chisel in with a joke of his own.

Synonyms

to intrude
vsto chisel in
105 4.4

To go into a place or conversation where you are not welcome

interrupts conversations often abruptly rather than simply entering unwantedly
to barge in
vsto chisel in
  • Informal
59 5.5

Enter a room or conversation suddenly and rudely without being invited

interrupts abruptly without the strong rude force implied there
to put in
vsto chisel in
54 3.8

Interrupt a conversation to make a short comment or question

interrupts to force entry rather than to politely add a point
to chime in
vsto chisel in
  • Informal
40 4.3

To make a short comment during a conversation

interrupts suddenly rather than politely joining to add a comment
to break in
vsto chisel in
30 3.4

To interrupt a conversation or activity without being invited

interrupts more often with abruptness rather than only being uninvited
to intrude on
vsto chisel in
22 4.6

To go into someone's space or life without permission

interrupts conversations abruptly rather than broadly interfering in others' affairs
to burst in
vsto chisel in
21 3.3

To enter a room suddenly and interrupt people

interrupts conversations abruptly rather than by entering a place
to butt in
vsto chisel in
  • Informal
21 4.4

Interrupt someone who is speaking without being invited

interrupts more often in an abrupt or sudden way
to cut in
vsto chisel in
6 3.5

Interrupt someone who is speaking or doing something

interrupts conversations often in a sudden or uninvited way
to horn in
vsto chisel in
  • Informal
5 8.2

To join a conversation or activity without being invited

interrupts conversations abruptly rather than meddling in others' affairs
to burst in on
vsto chisel in
3 5.2

Go into a room or conversation suddenly and interrupt people

interrupts conversations abruptly rather than by physical entry

Antonyms

to wait
∞ 1.0

To stay in one place or delay action until something happens

How Rude

to barge in
  • Informal
59 5.5
to butt in
  • Informal
21 4.4
to chisel in
  • Informal
7.7
to cut in
6 3.5
to join in
143 1.1

Surface Forms

chisel in infinitive
chiseled in past
chiseled in past participle
chiseling in present participle
chisels in third person singular

Morphology

chisel + in

The sense 'to interrupt' can be motivated by a metaphorical extension of 'chisel' (to carve/cut) + 'in' (into) — i.e. to figuratively 'cut into' a conversation — so there is a detectable compositional link. However, 'chisel' is a relatively specific physical verb and this particular extension is not a common productive pattern (unlike 'cut in'), so a B1 learner knowing the words would not reliably predict the idiomatic sense without prior exposure.

Etymology

Chisel in may come from the image of someone using a chisel to cut a small space and push in, like carving a place for themselves. That's why it now means 'to interrupt or break into a conversation'.