"Champing at the bit" or "Chomping at the bit"?

Question

The Washington Post has a front page caption today about the mayor-elect of Washington D.C. "Champing at the bit". I always thought it was "Chomping at the bit". Did some one at WP consume too much eggnog or am I missing something here?

Answer 1

I have always thought it was champing at the bit and the Concise Oxford English dictionary confirms that the three verbal meanings of champ (also a short, informal form for champion) are "munch enthusiastically and noisily", "(of a horse) make a noisy biting or chewing action" and "fret impatiently". All fit with "champing at the bit" but especially the one that mentions a horse explicitly. It also says the phrase "champ (or chafe) at the bit" means "be restlessly impatient to start doing something" and doesn't mention "chomp at the bit" as a phrase there or under the meaning of chomp but as it comes to the same thing you might as well continue to say chomp which means "munch or chew noisily or vigorously". Note that I'm Australian and the dictionary is English so usage may well be variable where you live or were raised. The dictionary suggests the origin of both words is imitation (onomatopoeia) of the sound made by the chomper (or champer). "Champ" is thought to originate from Middle English and "chomp" from 17th Century English but these are just 'educated guesses' by the dictionary.

Answer 2

Chomping At The Bit

Answer 3

I don't believe I'm answering a question that's seven years old. Imagine that. To be "correct" and "proper" according to the folks who apparently know what constitutes "correct" and "proper" it would be "champing" which sounds stupid to my ears. But then, going by my memories of a college English class that I aced, if it sounds stupid, backwards, or ridiculous, it's probably right. At least, that was the general rule of thumb that I went by. Stupid wins the day, champ-champ-champ...
Now, if I was a horse, and there was a bit in my mouth, that would probably be uncomfortable, and I would probably tend to want to bite it, but since I'm not a horse, I really have no idea what the sensation of having a metal bit in one's mouth would feel like.

Answer 4

The proper phrase is "Champing at the bit". "Chomping at the bit" means more or less the same thing, but is wrong (and should be "Chomping ON the bit" anyway)

Answer 5

My heavens, I never have been flashed, but I did unintentionally flash a few folks once. I was in the hospital some time back and decided to take a stoll to the vending area. Well, I wasn't thinking about what I was wearing and, let's just say that those hospital gowns don't leave a lot to the imagination on the backside. The nurse came up from behind me and put a blanket over my shoulders . . . I was wondering why it was a little drafty back there!

Answer 6

Wow, this falls under the category of:

"ya learn something new everyday!"

I would swear it was "chomping" until I went to the website shown above...it is "champing!"

Answer 7

I've always heard "champing". Maybe it's a regional thing since I'm the Washington area.

Answer 8

I always thought it was chomping at the bit. I assume it means chomping as in chewing at the bit , like as in a horse bit. Hmm??

Answer 9

I GREW UP IN E. TEXAS, IN THE COUNTRY, AND IT WAS MISPRONOUNCED AS 'CHOMPING AT THE BIT.'
THERE WERE LOTS OF MISPRONOUNCED WORDS WHERE I CAME FROM. I LEARNED IN SCHOOL HOW TO PRONOUNCE MOST OF THEM. LIKE 'WARSH' THE CLOTHES. THEN 'WRENCH' THEM .THIS CHANGE AROUND MY NECK IS GOLD. THE COINS I HAVE IN MY POCKET ARE CHANGE. I LIKE THE NEW CHEVROLET.
I LOOKED IT UP IN THE DICTIONARY WHEN I GREW UP AND LEARNED IT IS PRONOUNCED
CHAMPING AT THE BIT. DID JA GIT ALL THAT "?

Answer 10

It might have been a play on words. Champing as in winning or somethin of that sort. But yes, it is Choping at the bit.