chomp at the bit
Await with agitation
Chomp at the bit means to show eager impatience, like a restless horse chewing on its metal mouthpiece while waiting to run.
The standard phrase is actually *champ* at the bit, but chomp has largely displaced it in American usage: The team was chomping at the bit to get started.
Both versions convey the same frustrated eagerness to begin.
- impatientUnwilling to wait
- eagerIntensely wanting something
- raring to goExtremely keen to begin
- athirstIntensely craving liquid
- bridleEquine control harness
restless · raring · reins · mouth · bit · held back · jaw · champing · grind · gnaw · keen · pacing · fidgeting · straining · bursting at the seams · gearing up · ready to roll · agog
chomp at the bitbide one's time
Wait for opportunity
hold one's horses · take one's time · cool one's heels · sit tight · rest easy
chomp at the bitdrag one's feet
Deliberately slow progress
drag one's heels · hold back · hesitate · dread · procrastinate