champing at the bit

Verb

champ at the bit (third-person singular simple present champs at the bit, present participle champing at the bit, simple past and past participle champed at the bit)

1. (intransitive) To bite the bit, especially when restless.

   Synonyms:

   chafe at the bit

2. (figuratively, intransitive) To show impatience or frustration when delayed.
   • 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