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Glite Dictionary
to lead with one's chin

to lead with one's chin

9.7
Act in a way that makes you open to attack or criticism
  • idiom
  • Informal
: exponerse
  • By sharing my opinion so boldly, I know I'm leading with my chin in this debate.

Examples

  • You're leading with your chin on this Joe situation.

    The Florentine (1999)

  • I admit I led with my chin; no serious insult was intended.

    Blog text (20)

  • You're leading with your chin, boy.

    They Drive by Night (1940)

  • "Would you like to live as other humans do, Alice?" I asked, ostentatiously leading with my chin.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • IT DEMANDS THAT YOU LEAD WITH YOUR CHIN.

    Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986)

  • If you keep criticizing your boss openly, you're really leading with your chin at work.

  • He tends to lead with his chin whenever he makes risky business decisions without considering the consequences.

Synonyms

to stick one's neck out
vsto lead with one's chin
1 7.2

To take a risk by saying or doing something that may get you in trouble

takes unnecessary or careless risks that expose oneself to trouble

Antonyms

to protect
∞ 1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

guard
204 1.0

A thing that keeps you safe from danger

How Risky

to lead with one's chin
  • Informal
9.7
to take chances
412 3.8
to be careful
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

lead with one's chin infinitive
leading with one's chin present participle
leads with one's chin third person singular
led with one's chin past
led with one's chin past participle

Morphology

lead + with + one's + chin

The phrase derives from a boxing image (pushing the chin forward) that metaphorically signals exposing oneself to attack, so the constituent meanings of 'lead', 'with', and 'chin' give a partial clue about forward positioning and exposure. However, the figurative sense of taking unnecessary risks or making oneself vulnerable is cultural/metaphorical and not fully predictable from the parts, so a B1 learner would only partly infer the meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Lead with one's chin comes from fighting. If a fighter steps forward with the chin first, it is easy to get hit, so the image shows someone who makes themselves 'open to attack, criticism, or trouble'.