Origin of Phrases - B
Busting your chops
Meaning: To say things intended to harass by the forcible exertion of one's authority.
Example: I'm tired of busting my chops for my boss all day and not getting no appreciation.
Origin: At the turn of the century, wearing very long sideburns-- called mutton chops or lamb chops -- was en vogue. "Chops" in this case probably harks back to its original 16th century slang meaning of "mouth" or "lips," a "bust in the chops" being the equivalent of a punch in the mouth. Lamb chop side burns also made a comeback in the late 1960s. A bust in the chops was to get hit in the face. Since Mutton Chops are no longer considered high fashion, the term has come to be figurative rather than literal.