# champ at the bit

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/champ-at-the-bit
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To show impatience or frustration when delayed.

## Examples

- The children are champing at the bit to start their summer vacation.
- He is champing at the bit to open his birthday presents.
- I am champing at the bit to tell you the good news.
- The team has finished all the preparations and is now champing at the bit to begin the new project.
- The young athlete is champing at the bit to get back on the field after spending three months recovering from a serious knee injury.
- After waiting in the long security line for an hour, the travelers were champing at the bit to finally board their flight.
- 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.

## Origin

From the verb champ, to chew noisily, and bit, the metal component of a horse’s harness held within its mouth. The phrase draws from the equine habit of grinding the teeth against the metal when forced to remain stationary. It is an expression of physical impatience, recording the sound of an animal waiting for the signal to move.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.