# strain at the leash

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/strain-at-the-leash
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be very eager to do or begin something.

## Examples

- The excited puppy is straining at the leash to go outside.
- The students are straining at the leash to finish their exams and start their summer vacation.
- After months of careful planning and bureaucratic delays, the young entrepreneurs were straining at the leash to launch their innovative project.

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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.