champ at the bit

champ at the bit
champ at the bit & chomp at the bit
1. Lit. [for a horse] to bite at its bit, eager to move along. •

Dobbin was champing at the bit, eager to go.

2. Fig. to be ready and anxious to do something. •

The kids were champing at the bit to get into the swimming pool.

•

The dogs were champing at the bit to begin the hunt.

* * *
{v. phr.} To be eager to begin; be tired of being held back; want to start. * /The horses were champing at the bit, anxious to start racing./ * /As punishment John was kept after school for two hours. He was champing at the bit to go out./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • champ at the bit — {v. phr.} To be eager to begin; be tired of being held back; want to start. * /The horses were champing at the bit, anxious to start racing./ * /As punishment John was kept after school for two hours. He was champing at the bit to go out./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • champ at the bit — If someone is champing at the bit, they are very eager to accomplish something.  ( Chomping at the bit is also used.) …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • champ at the bit — ► champ at the bit be very impatient. Main Entry: ↑champ …   English terms dictionary

  • champ at the bit — phrasal or champ the bit 1. of a horse : to bite or gnash a bit in unruliness or impatience the mustang snorted and champed the bit … ready to bolt Zane Grey 2. : to be impatient of restraint or inactivity Gaul may champ the bit and foam in… …   Useful english dictionary

  • champ at the bit — verb a) to bite the bit, especially when restless Pittsburgh supercomputer is complete, and scientists are champing at the bit to use it. b) (of a person) to show impatience or frustration when delayed Everyone is champing at the bit to be… …   Wiktionary

  • champ at the bit —    Someone who is champing at the bit is ready and eager to start an activity, and is showing impatience at being delayed.     The press conference was delayed for such a long time that the journalists were champing at the bit …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • champ at the bit — to be very eager. The phone companies are champing at the bit to expand into these new lines of business. Etymology: based on the idea of a horse chewing on the bit (= piece of metal in its mouth that allows a rider to control its movements) when …   New idioms dictionary

  • champ\ at\ the\ bit — v. phr. To be eager to begin; be tired of being held back; want to start. The horses were champing at the bit, anxious to start racing. As punishment John was kept after school for two hours. He was champing at the bit to go out …   Словарь американских идиом

  • champ the bit — phrasal see champ at the bit …   Useful english dictionary

  • champ (or chafe) at the bit — be restlessly impatient to start doing something. → champ …   English new terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”