Champ at the bit vs. Chomp at the bit

Champ at the bit

/tʃæmp ət ðə bɪt/

To be eager or impatient to start a task or activity.

Examples:

She was champing at the bit to open her birthday gifts.The team is champing at the bit to start the project.Kids were champing at the bit as the park gates opened.

Synonyms:

eagerimpatientkeen

Antonyms:

delayhold backhesitate

Chomp at the bit

/tʃɒmp ət ðə bɪt/

To be very eager or impatient to do something.

Examples:

Eager to start, she was chomping at the bit.He was chomping at the bit to reveal his big news.She sat there, chomping at the bit, waiting for her turn.

Synonyms:

fretfumeeagerimpatient

Antonyms:

This word has no antonyms

Ways to tell them apart:

• Champ at the bit is the original phrase derived from horse racing terminology, where champ means to chew or bite repeatedly.
• Over time, chomp at the bit became a common variation due to phonetic evolution and its similarity to champ.
• You can remember the original version by associating champ with tradition and horses.
• The chomp version might remind you of more forceful biting, popularized by how people actually pronounce it today.
• Despite the differences in spelling, both phrases convey the same eager impatience.