chomping

Everyday

1. Chewing or biting noisily and with big movements of the jaw. tree →
2. In «chomping at the bit»: very eager and impatient to start something (from a horse biting on the metal bit in its mouth). tree →

In the lessons

In stories it gives a lively sound picture of someone or some animal eating — a horse chomping hay, a child chomping an apple. The phrase «chomping (or champing) at the bit» describes excitement and impatience before a race, a trip or a game. It tells the reader about noisy eating or eagerness.

Examples

• The horse was chomping on a carrot. tree →
• My brother sat chomping crisps through the whole film. tree →
• The dog was chomping happily on its bone. tree →
• We were chomping at the bit to get into the swimming pool. tree →
• Stop chomping with your mouth open! tree →
• The caterpillar kept chomping through the leaves. tree →
• The team was chomping at the bit before kick-off. tree →

Note

-ing form of the regular verb «chomp». The older form of the idiom is «champing at the bit», but «chomping at the bit» is now more common. Chewing with your mouth open is thought rude at the table.