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champ
champ at the bit
To be very eager or impatient to do something. The phrase alludes to an excited horse chewing on its "bit" (a metal mouthpiece). The kids are champing at the bit to go to the park—can you take them? Now that my daughter is 16, she's champing at the bit to take the driver's test.
champ at the bit
and chomp at the bit 1. Lit. [for a horse] to bite at its bit, eager to move along. Dobbin was champing at the bit, eager to go.
2. Fig. to be ready and anxious to do something. The kids were champing at the bit to get into the swimming pool. The dogs were champing at the bit to begin the hunt.
champ at the bit
also chomp at the bit to be very eager The phone companies are champing at the bit to expand into these new lines of business.
Etymology: based on the idea of a horse chewing on the bit (piece of metal in its mouth that allows a rider to control its movements) when excited or nervous
be champing/chomping at the bit
also be chafing at the bit to be very keen to start an activity or to go somewhere By the time he arrived to pick us up we were champing at the bit with impatience. I'm not sure if he's ready for extra responsibility yet, but he's chafing at the bit.
champ at the bit
Show impatience at being held back or delayed, as in The dismissal bell hadn't rung, but they were champing at the bit to leave. This term transfers the action of a horse that impatiently bites the bit in its mouth to human behavior. [Mid-1600s]
like a champ
Very well, very successfully, as in He got through that audition like a champ. This expression, in which champ is short for champion, alludes to the winner of a sporting competition. [Slang; c. 1960]
champ
(tʃæmp)1. n. a champion. (Also a term of address.) Mark is a real champ—always there to help.
2. n. a dependable member of the underworld. (see also
thoroughbred.)
Lefty is a champ. He stood by me the whole time. champ at the bit
To show impatience at being held back or delayed.