lick one's chops
Await with relish
To lick one's chops is to show eager anticipation, especially for food or some pleasurable prospect.
The image is of an animal—or person—licking their lips in anticipation of eating: The investors were licking their chops at the merger announcement.
Sometimes spelled lick one's lips, with the same meaning.
- salivateSecrete mouth fluid
- excitedEagerly anticipating something
- thrilledOverjoyed beyond measure
- can't waitEager anticipation expressed
- chomping at the bitEager and impatient
look forward to · bated breath · impatient · hopeful · savor · anticipatory · devour · feast one's eyes · desirous · hungry · longing · relish · covet · yearning · enthusiastic · chew · gear up · munch
anticipatory eagerness
lick one's chopsdread
Intense anticipatory fear
couldn't care less · turn up one's nose · shrug off · recoil · drag one's feet
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