English Explanatory Dictionary

chomp at the bit

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To show impatience or frustration when delayed.

Pronunciation

en-au-chomp at the bit.ogg

Word forms

chomp at the bit chomps at the bit chomping at the bit chomped at the bit 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.

Related words

bit between one's teeth
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