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champ at the bit

idiom
Meaning

To show impatience or frustration when delayed.


Origin

disputed origin

From champ (verb) (“to chew noisily”) + bit (“part of horse's harness held in its mouth”); horses tend to chew their bits when impatient with waiting.

Examples
SIMPLE

The children are champing at the bit to start their summer vacation.

CONTEXTUAL

The team has finished all the preparations and is now champing at the bit to begin the new project.

COMPLEX

Although the negotiations were stalled by bureaucratic delays, the investors were champing at the bit to finalize the agreement and move forward with the acquisition.

Anchors to
Related idioms5entries
  1. 01

    a little bit of bread and no cheese

    Used to represent the song of the yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella).

  2. 02

    bit by a barn mouse

    tipsy; slightly drunk

  3. 03

    every bit

    Exactly, to its full degree

  4. 04

    quite a bit

    considerably

  5. 05

    wouldn't shout if a shark bit him

    To be frugal or miserly.

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