verb (used with object)
- to bite upon or grind, especially impatiently: The horses champed the oats.
- to crush with the teeth and chew vigorously or noisily; munch.
- to mash; crush.
verb (used without object)
- to make vigorous chewing or biting movements with the jaws and teeth.
noun
- the act of champing.
- champ at the bit, to betray impatience, as to begin some action.
verb
- to munch (food) noisily like a horse
- (when intr, often foll by on, at, etc) to bite (something) nervously or impatiently; gnaw
- champ at the bit or chafe at the bit informal to be impatient to start work, a journey, etc
noun
- the act or noise of champing
- Ulster dialect a dish, originating in Ireland, of mashed potatoes and spring onions or leeks
noun
- informal short for champion (def. 1)
1868, American English abbreviation of champion (n.).
“to chew noisily,” 1520s, probably echoic; OED suggests a connection with jam (v.). Earlier also cham, chamb, etc. To champ on (or at) the bit, as an eager horse will, is attested in figurative sense by 1640s. Related: Champed; champing. As a noun in this sense, attested from c.1600.
In addition to the idiom beginning with champ
- champ at the bit
also see:
- like a champ