chomp
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be champing 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.
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.
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). An older variant of the more common version, "chomp at the bit." 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.
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). A variant of "champ at the bit," which is the original phrase. 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!
chomp down on (someone or something)
1. Literally, to bite aggressively or forcefully down upon someone or something. She lost her tooth after chomping down on an apple. I reached out my hand to pet the horse when it lunged forward and chomped down on me!
2. To restrain or withhold something, as a remark or facial expression, with great difficulty and willpower. I had to chomp down on the torrent of expletives dancing on the tip of my tongue. She chomped down on a vindictive smile as her opponent was led away in chains.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
champ at the bit
and chomp at the bit1. 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.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
be champing at the bit
orbe chomping at the bit
If you are champing at the bit, you want to do something now and feel impatient because you are being prevented from doing so. Note: In the first and third expressions, a `bit' is a piece of metal which is held in a horse's mouth by the bridle and reins. Foremen had been champing at the bit to strike before next week's meeting. He had three of Goldman's best clients chomping at the bit to get a piece of this deal.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
champ (or chafe) at the bit
be restlessly impatient, especially to start doing something.Champ at the bit is used literally of a spirited horse that tugs at the bit in its mouth in its eagerness to move.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
be ˌchamping/ˌchomping at the ˈbit
(also be ˌchafing at the bit more formal) be impatient to do or to start doing something: The players were champing at the bit as the start of the match was delayed. ♢ I know you’re chafing at the bit, so we’ll start as soon as we can. Champ and chomp mean to bite or eat something noisily. The bit is the piece of metal which goes in a horse’s mouth and is used to control the horse.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
champ at the bit
To show impatience at being held back or delayed.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.