2006-09-29 15:07:09 · 7 answers · asked by ERNIE L 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Friends
Well there are two ideas.
The first would be actually "chewing fat" from the bones of a meal. Sitting around, full, laughing, conversating as you finish up the meal. Fat was considered the expensive part of the meal because people really needed those calories back in the days when people usually had laborious jobs and food was only plentiful in parts of the year.
The second idea would be like getting down the issues. Chewing the fat or breaking down heavy ideas. However, when using this figure of speech; it's usually used without such contempt and actually with some pleasure.
I vote for the first one, but it's your question and I did my best to answer.
2006-09-29 15:14:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It originated in the early 1700's when a man named Jed Stratton was talking to his friend Thomas Baile over dinner in an inn. Thomas Baile was eating his steak lined with heavy fat. Jed was a little def but was talking to Thomas all night about plans for the bear hunt for the following morning. Jed was giving the details while Thomas was busy eating his steak. Jed thought that Thomas had been acknowleding him all night because he was reading Thomas' lips but Thomas was actually just chewing the fat from the steak, and having a hard time at it. Thomas didnt once say a word over dinner that night nor was he listening to Jeds plan at all, but Jed thought that he had understood everything and even thought that he was talking to him all night. The following day Thomas got both of them killed by a bear they were hunting because he never heard the plan.
2006-09-29 15:32:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eons ago, people would squat around the cave and share food. While you share food, you generally have a conversation. Chewing the fat means that you are chit chatting about stuff not too important.
2006-09-29 15:24:57 · answer #3 · answered by aawatson3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to a bookstore and ask at the information counter if they can recommend a book on the origin of sayings like that. I could try to fake it like a certain person who answered this but, I don't want to be a female 'Cliff Claven' like that person is.
2006-09-29 16:04:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eskimo, for chewing on whale blubber? It means having a chat
2006-09-29 15:15:01 · answer #5 · answered by preciselyright 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
siting around talking after a meal....possibly originated when at the end of eating people relaxed I think anyway
2006-09-29 15:10:13 · answer #6 · answered by lyndles 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't know where it comes from, but in the south it means havin a conversation.
2006-09-29 15:09:18 · answer #7 · answered by Michelle *The Truth Hurts 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋