English idiom

champ at the bit

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to feel intensely ready to begin after being forced to wait

Word picture

An eager horse is pictured biting the bit in its mouth while waiting impatiently to move.

Example

“The volunteers were champing at the bit to start rebuilding the playground.”

Dictionary details

Component words

champ bit

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

with bated breath

while waiting with intense eagerness or anxiety for something to happen

on tenterhooks

anxiously waiting in suspense because the outcome is uncertain

bright and early

at the very start of the morning

early bird

someone who prefers beginning the day before most other people

hang on a minute

used to ask someone to wait, or to express surprise or objection

so far so good

used to say that things have gone well up to now

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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