champing at the bit
Restless to begin
Champing at the bit describes eager impatience, like a horse chewing restlessly on its mouthpiece while waiting to run.
Someone champing at the bit is ready to act and frustrated by delay: The team was champing at the bit to start the project.
The variant *chomping at the bit* is equally common and considered standard.
- eagerIntensely wanting something
- raring to goExtremely keen to begin
- keenSharp or enthusiastic
- raringExtremely eager, impatient
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
bridle · horse · anticipation · stirrup · reins · impatient · on the edge of one's seat · fired up · ready to roll · bit · enthusiasm · hoof · chomping at the bit · thirsty · restlessness · zeal · urgency · wound up
- anticipationanticipating, expectation, expectancy, expecting, awaiting
- Horse Idiomshold your horses, dark horse, high horse, straight from the horse's mouth, horse sense
- mood idiomsbad mood, black mood, dark mood, foul mood, in a mood
- racing termsbackstretch, checkered flag, daily double, dead heat, exacta
- readinessready, prepared, set, alert, primed
champing at the bitpatient
Able to wait calmly
calm · biding one's time · unhurried · taking one's time · laid-back
champing at the bitdragging one's feet
Intentionally slowing progress
reluctant · hesitant · foot-dragging · unenthusiastic · apathetic