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chirp
DCHP-3 (Mar 2023)
v. — Sports, Informal
to jeer at someone, usually a member of an opposing team, a teammate or a friend.
Type: 5. Frequency — Depending on the speaker's intention, chirping someone can be done with camaraderie, affection or malice. As part of the spirit of competition, it has its origins in sports. OED-3 lists only positive aspects of chirping: definition 3.b.: "To talk in sprightly and lively tones, to give utterance to cheerful feelings. Also to chirp it and chirp up" and qualifies this use as "U.S." Merriam-Webster lists this meaning as "informal", and defines it as "to make sharply critical, complaining, or taunting remarks", which comes close to the Canadian meanings.
Chart 1 shows the prevalent use of chirping me in Canadian English compared to US English.
Chart 1 shows the prevalent use of chirping me in Canadian English compared to US English.
See: beak
Quotations
2005
"For sure (that win felt good)," said MacDonald, who had struggled since arriving in Guelph. "Some of the guys (from London) were chirping me during the game, especially about last week, so I wanted to play well."
2012
Before UFC 131, when you got knockout of the night against Yves Edwards, did you ever worry that you might have to give up your moniker Hands of Stone?
Sam Stout: (Laughs) There were a lot of people chirping me a little bit. I was starting to get a little embarrassed with not knocking anybody out. Now I think I can keep the name for a little bit longer.
2018
So, he settled on No. 29.
"Lots of guys were chirping me - it's a back-up goalie number," Dube explained with a grin. "But I think it's good. It's just a number."
Tell that to a young kid growing up in Nokia, Finland, who idolized Teemu Selanne.
2022
"He just asked me how my travel day was," Barron said. "Nothing about world juniors. It will probably take a little while before he starts chirping me about that. Just a friendly conversation welcoming me to the team."
References
- Merriam-Webster Unabridged • chirp (v.)
- OED-3
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