The Word “Chalk”

I am known for chalk art all over the world and i have my own brand of chalk called ChampSticks(tm) Professional Grade Artists Chalk which many festivals are currently using or promoting for Street and sidewalk Chalk Art Competitions. Naturally, I am always thinking chalk: Chalk art, Chalk Manufacturing, Chalk uses and Chalk Competitions… I am not always thinking of various meanings and other uses for the stuff. Today, after a heavy schedule of travel and events; I was researching other uses and production methods for chalk and came across several links which were refreshingly off topic for me. I enjoyed reading the following definitions and other uses of the word. Perhaps you will too. IF not and this is just boring dribble to you, thank you for just being a human… I send you a hug.

The following was taken directly from http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/chalk

chalk

Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to chalk: chalk out

by a long chalk

By a wide margin, as of time, distance, ability, etc. Often used in the negative to indicate not at all or by no means.Primarily heard in UK. He won that match by a long chalk. I’m not done yet, not by a long chalk!
See also: chalk, long

not by a long chalk

Not at all; not by great or any means. Primarily heard in UK. I’m not beaten yet, not by a long chalk!
See also: chalk, long, not

chalk off

1. In sports, to disallow a goal due to a technical rule of the game. Primarily heard in UK. Their last-minute goal wouldhave won the match, but it was chalked off due to an offsides ruling by the referee.
2. To record, mark, or make note of something, especially as having been completed. I always find it bittersweet tochalk off another birthday each year.
3. To delineate the border of something with chalk. You always see the police chalk off bodies of murder victims inmovies. I wonder if they do that in real life.
See also: chalk, off

chalk (something or someone) off

To presume, dismiss, or disregard someone or something as being a certain way. I really liked his earlier music, butI’ve chalked him off as a total sellout in recent years. Most people chalked the film off as yet another brainless horrormovie.
See also: chalk, off

chalk (something) up to experience

To regard a bad situation, action, or outcome as a learning experience rather than dwelling on its negative impact. Iknow you’re upset about failing your exam, but just chalk it up to experience and try harder next time!
See also: chalk, experience, up

chalk it up

To link something that has happened to a particular reason or circumstance. Don’t get too down on yourselves afterthis loss, boys. Let’s just chalk it up to inexperience and move on. Sure, getting a B in Algebra is disappointing, butI’m just going to chalk it up to the fact that I’m usually terrible at math!
See also: chalk, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

chalk something out

1. Lit. to draw a picture of something in chalk, especially to illustrate a plan of some type. The coach chalked the playout so the players could understand what they were to do. Our team captain chalked out the play.
2. Fig. to explain something carefully to someone, as if one were talking about a chalk drawing. She chalked out thedetails of the plan over the phone.
See also: chalk, out

chalk something up

1. Lit. to write something on a chalkboard. Let me chalk this formula up so you all can see it. I’ll chalk up the formula.
2. Fig. to add a mark or point to one’s score. See also chalk something up (against someone).) Chalk another goal forSarah. Chalk up another basket for the other side.
See also: chalk, up

chalk something up

(against someone) Fig. to blame someone for something; to register something against someone. I will have to chalkanother fault up against Fred. She chalked up a mark against Dave.
See also: chalk, up

chalk something up (to something)

Fig. to recognize something as the cause of something else. We chalked her bad behavior up to her recent illness. Ihad to chalk up the loss to inexperience.
See also: chalk, up

not by a long shot

Fig. not by a great amount; not at all. Did I win the race? Not by a long shot. Not by a long shot did she complete theassignment.
See also: long, not, shot
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

chalk up something

also chalk something up

to record something special Many banks chalked up large profits from their loans to internet companies.
Etymology: based on the idea of keeping a record on a chalk board
See also: chalk, up

chalk something up to something else

also chalk something up to something else

to say that something is caused by something else She doesn’t even bother to say thank you, but I just chalk it up tobad manners and try not to let it bother me.
See also: chalk, up

not by a long shot

not at all “Do you think it’s as good as her last movie?”No, not by a long shot.”

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form not do something by a long shot: We haven’t eliminated the diseaseby a long shot.
See also: long, not, shot
Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003. Reproduced with permission.

be (like) chalk and cheese

(British & Australian) also be as different as chalk and cheese (British &Australian)

if two people are like chalk and cheese, they are completely different from each other I don’t have anything in commonwith my brother. We’re like chalk and cheese.

See put down to experience

See also: and, chalk, cheese

put something down to experience

(British, American & Australian) also chalk something up toexperience (American & Australian)

to decide that instead of being upset about something bad that you have done or that has happened, you will learnfrom it ‘I’m so ashamed. I let him take advantage of me.’ ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself. Just put it down to experience.’
See also: down, experience, put

not by a long shot

(informal) also not by a long chalk (old-fashioned)

something that you say when you think something is not at all true ‘Do you think it’s as good as her last movie?’ ‘No,not by a long shot.’ It’s not over yet, not by a long chalk, we still have a very good chance of winning.
See also: long, not, shot
Cambridge Idioms Dictionary, 2nd ed. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006. Reproduced with permission.

chalk up

1. Score or earn, as in She chalked up enough points to be seeded first in the tournament. This term alludes torecording accounts (and later, scores) in chalk on a slate. [c. 1700]
2. Credit or ascribe, as They chalked their success up to experience. [First half of 1900s]
See also: chalk, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

chalk up

v.

1. To earn or score something: The baseball team chalked up four runs in the last inning.
2. To credit or ascribe something: Let’s just chalk the mistakes up to experience and try to do better on the nextproject.
See also: chalk, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

chalk and cheese

Two objects that although appearing to be similar are in fact different. Just as certain varieties of crumbly white cheesemight at first glance resemble chalk, so for example, siblings who resemble each other might have completely differentpersonalities. They would be said to be as different as chalk and cheese.
See also: and, chalk, cheese
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price

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