chomp at the bit en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
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.
Meanings
-
(intransitive) To show impatience or frustration when delayed.
Electronics makers chomping at the bit.
2004, Lisa Wang, Taipei Times read at http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2004/03/16/2003102683 on 14 May 2006But I wouldn't say [they're frustrated], I think our players are just chomping at the bit to go.
2005, Guy Hedderwick, speaking to Joel Zander of Australian Broadcasting Corporation, New Zealand Knights: Outsiders read at https://web.archive.org/web/20060420011428/http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200508/s1441286.htm on 14 May 2006Curt Schilling was "chomping at the bit" following Monday’s three-inning stint in an intrasquad minor-league game.
2005, David Borges, Journal Register News Service, Schilling ‘chomping at the bit’ read at http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14200724&BRD=1641&PAG=461&dept_id=17739&rfi=6 on 14 May 2006
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| chomps at the bit | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| champ at the bit | alternative | lexicographic | |
| chomped at the bit | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| chomped at the bit | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| chomping at the bit | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |