1. Home
2. Idioms
3. champ at the bit

champ at the bit

---

---

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

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