Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

champ at the bit

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.88 in modern English

Syllables: cham-p at the bit
IPA

27

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To bite the bit, especially when restless.

Intransitive verb

verb

To show impatience or frustration when delayed.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"Pittsburgh supercomputer is complete, and scientists are champing at the bit to use it [title]"
"Everyone is champing at the bit to be labelled innovative."
"We had quite a few people in last weekend. They’re champing at the bit, ready to go."
"“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.”"

Etymology

From champ (verb) (“to chew noisily”) + bit (“part of horse's harness held in its mouth”); horses tend to chew their bits when impatient with waiting.

Usage

Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

champs at the bit (present, singular) champing at the bit (participle, present) champed at the bit (participle, past) champed at the bit (past)

Phrases

chomp at the bit strain at the leash

Frequently Paired Words

chomp at the bit strain at the leash

Synonyms

chafe at the bit

Questions

What does champ at the bit mean?: To bite the bit, especially when restless.
Where does champ at the bit come from?: From champ (verb) (“to chew noisily”) + bit (“part of horse's harness held in its mouth”); horses tend to chew their bits when impatient with waiting.

How to pronounce champ at the bit

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