champ at the bit

Idioms and Phrases

Show impatience at being held back or delayed, as in The dismissal bell hadn't rung, but they were champing at the bit to leave . This term transfers the action of a horse that impatiently bites the bit in its mouth to human behavior. [Mid-1600s]

Example Sentences

“But it’s all part of a process of getting better. He was champing at the bit to get back out here and he’ll champ at the bit to get out there tomorrow.”

From Seattle Times

Mr. Limbaugh said reporters often champ at the bit to report on Mr. Trump’s children and tie them to conspiracy theories involving Russians, yet have glossed over Biden family scandals for years.

From Washington Times

These gurus should champ at the bit to show us they actually do know what they’re talking about.

From Slate

He knew he could wait out reporters asking their one-liner questions, for they would champ at the bit to break for commercials or to change the subject themselves.

From Salon

Those with devout allegiance to the lucid and succinct, like me, may champ at the bit and decide to take their favors elsewhere — but to the intrepid literary cryptographers and meaning sleuths among us, the shifting signposts and pixels of this ciphered text will surely resolve in time from a fractal into a grandiose abstract.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• itch