chomp at the bit

English

Alternative forms

champ at the bit

Etymology

Non-standard variant of champ at the bit, recasting it as chomp (“to chew noisily”) + bit (“part of a horse's harness held in its mouth”); horses tend to chew on their bits when impatient at waiting.

Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (file)

Verb

chomp at the bit (third-person singular simple present chomps at the bit, present participle chomping at the bit, simple past and past participle chomped at the bit)

(intransitive) To show impatience or frustration when delayed.
- 2004, Lisa Wang, Taipei Times read at on 14 May 2006
  Electronics makers chomping at the bit.
- 2005, Guy Hedderwick, speaking to Joel Zander of Australian Broadcasting Corporation, New Zealand Knights: Outsiders read at on 14 May 2006
  But I wouldn't say [they're frustrated], I think our players are just chomping at the bit to go.
- 2005, David Borges, Journal Register News Service, Schilling ‘chomping at the bit’ read at on 14 May 2006
  Curt Schilling was "chomping at the bit" following Monday’s three-inning stint in an intrasquad minor-league game.