champ at the bit

present singular third person champs at the bit · participle present champing at the bit · participle past champed at the bit · past champed at the bit

1. intransitiveequestrianismTo bite the bit, especially when restless.

   Synonyms: chafe at the bit

2. figurativelyintransitiveTo show impatience or frustration when delayed.

   Everyone is champing at the bit to be labelled innovative.

   2006 May 14, “Ideas with wings, a radio series supporting innovation”, in Australian Broadcasting Corporation, archived from the original on 05 Feb 2010

   3 more examples

   Pittsburgh supercomputer is complete, and scientists are champing at the bit to use it [title]

   2001 October 1, Byron Spice, “Pittsburgh supercomputer is complete, and scientists are champing at the bit to use it”, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, archived from the original on 27 Jan 2006

   We had quite a few people in last weekend. They’re champing at the bit, ready to go.

   2006 May 14, Al Rosenquist, “Anglers champing at the bit”, in Sawyer County Record

   “We've been told by the biggest developers in the country that this is impossible,” he says. “We're champing at the bit to prove them all wrong.”

   2026 June 13, Alice Fisher, quoting Shiv Malik, “Can robots build new towns?”, in FT Weekend (House & Home section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 1