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chomp

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chomp at the bit

To be impatient or eager for something to happen or over some delay. Used to liken someone to an overexcited horse straining against its bit (the metal piece of the harness that fits between its jaws). The crowd chomped at the bit to see the unveiling of the new building. I've chomped at the bit for an opportunity like this my entire life!

See also: bit, chomp

be chomping at the bit

To be impatient and/or eager for something to happen or over some delay. Used to liken someone to an overexcited horse straining against its bit (the metal piece of the harness that fits between its jaws). I was chomping at the bit for the game to start. After two hours of waiting in the airport lobby, we were chomping at the bit to finally get on the plane.

See also: bit, chomp

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.

See also: bit, champ

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.

See also: bit, champ

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

See also: bit, champ

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.

See also: bit, champ

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]

See also: bit, champ

champ at the bit

To show impatience at being held back or delayed.

See also: bit, champ