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champ at the bit. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
champ at the bit, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
champ at the bit in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
champ at the bit you have here. The definition of the word
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champ at the bit, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
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, idiomatic, of a person) To show impatience or frustration when delayed.
- 2001: Byron Spice, Science Editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PG News read at on 14 May 2006
- Pittsburgh supercomputer is complete, and scientists are champing at the bit to use it.
- 2006: Australian Broadcasting Corporation, webpage for Ideas with wings, a radio series supporting innovation read at http://abc.net.au/science/wings/ on 14 May 2006
- Everyone is champing at the bit to be labelled innovative.
- 2006: Al Rosenquist of Pastika’s Sport Shop, speaking to Terrell Boettcher of Sawyer County Record, Hayward, Wisconsin, Anglers champing at the bit read at on 14 May 2006
- We had quite a few people in last weekend. They’re champing at the bit, ready to go.
Synonyms
Related terms
Translations
of horse: to bite the bit
to show impatience when delayed
See also