Yes, this is a Navy term that the everyday world stole from us like they have so many other sayings. It originated long ago on sailing ships when sailors were served their meals. The food was not always very good. Any and every part of the cow or pig would be cooked for the crew. Livestock at the time were not exactly healthy nor the animals we know today. Their meat was filled with fat and gristle.

When a sailor was served his meal he would try to get every bit of nourishment out of it he could. Since fresh meat was a luxury he would be sure to take advantage and milk the meal for all its worth. So when a sailor would get a big piece of fat or gristle he would chew on it for a good deal of time. This could be distracting and when the sailor should be working he might still be chewing the fat instead of working. He of course would be scolded for his lax working habits.

Over the years chewing the fat has been taken off the ships or the worlds Navy’s and used to refer to talking and sharing gossip. Of course men do not gossip, so how became attached to an old Naval term I will never know. But chewing the fat did come from sailing ships and is now a part of our everyday language.