We could chalk it up to the speed of communications these days muddling things, or we could chalk it up on the sidewalks of our cities and towns. Either way, there’s something we need to remember with this phrase. You might be “chock-full” of ideas, but let’s clear this up once and for all.
When it comes to the question of “Chalk it up” vs. “Chock it up” …
The correct phrase is “chalk it up” not “chock it up.”
It’s all a matter of giving credit where credit is due—often figuratively these days. However, the origin of this phrase does call back to literally writing debts in chalk. If one owed a store a certain amount of money, the store owner would chalk it up on the wall to keep track of it. (Ah, the days before ecommerce, mobile credit card readers, and crypto)
Now, “chock” is indeed a word. It dates back to at least the 1600s and has a few meanings, from a solid metal casting that might appear on a bow or stern of a ship to a wedge that blocks movement of a cask or a wheel. These days, we don’t generally see “chock” on its own; however, it does still appear in the word “chock-full” (most commonly hyphenated, but sometimes spelled “chockful”). But there’s a twist you might not see coming here.
The word “chock-full” is older than the word “chock.”
Gasp. I know. I had the same reaction.
Bonus Writing Tip: If something is “chock-full,” as in filled to overflowing, we’re not talking about overflowing with blackboard chalk but we’re also not talking about heavy metal or wedges to stop casks from rolling away. In this case, we are indeed looking for “chock” with an “o,” but “chock-full” has been around since the 1400s.
It’s just the English language keeping you on your toes, folks. But you knew that already, right?
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