Our family loves to meet and eat. Thanksgiving, Christmas, special birthdays, or for no reason at all. We also love to chew the fat, spending hours talking and laughing.

To chew the fat means to have long, relaxed conversations.

• No rush
• Easy laughter
• No schedule

We enjoy leisure from the daily grind.

To chew the fat involves little or no heavy discussion.

We simply shoot the breeze. Chats stay:

• Friendly
• Relaxed
• Informal

Conversations may occasionally include bits of gossip. When tempted to gossip, we need to bite our tongue.

Two other expressions share similar meanings.

• Chew the rag
• Chew the cud

Origins for chew the fat and chew the rug are unknown. People have guessed possibilities but with no certainty. We find a simpler explanation for chew the cud.

According to Phrase Finder, a cud is the food cows “bring back into their mouths from their first stomach to chew at leisure.” We see that slow chewing while cows graze in pastures.

Enjoy special time to chew the fat with friends and family.

Make memories and strengthen relationships. They are gifts from God.

“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16 NIV).

Thanks to Gail Gosser and Regina Graham for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained or thoughts about this one? If so, please comment below.

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