champ at the bit

== English == === Etymology === 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. === Pronunciation === === Verb === champ at the bit (third-person singular simple present champs at the bit, present participle champing at the bit, simple past and past participle champed at the bit) (intransitive, equestrianism) To bite the bit, especially when restless. (intransitive, figurative, of a person) To show impatience or frustration when delayed. ==== Synonyms ==== chafe at the bit ==== Related terms ==== chomp at the bit ==== Translations ==== === See also === strain at the leash