Champing/chomping at the bit

Posted by R Drachman on May 25, 2000

In Reply to: Champing/chomping at the bit posted by Kim Arthurs on May 25, 2000

: "chomp" is a dialect variation of "champ", which means to chew vigorously or nervously, to grind the teeth, "champing at the bit" describes the behavior of a horse, anxious to get going. If you have ever ridden horseback you know what that looks like. (The bit, of course is the metal rod in the horse's mouth attached to the reins, with which one controls the animal.