| According to Rick Jolly's book Jackspeak, this is a British Royal Navy slang term. More likely it is merely a standard phrase that due to overuse became on object of parody.
The term is the standard phrase used when something gets bent (q.v.), implying a lack of blame on the speaker's part. Compare (from The Jargon File) geekspeak I didn't change anything!
Note: Chief here means Chief Petty Officer. | 
