“Biting the bit” refers to intense enthusiasm driven by frustration or impatience. The term comes from horse racing, where horses chew on the bit while waiting to start. The expression can be used for people eagerly anticipating something, but the excitement may not live up to the hype.
Biting the bit, also rendered as biting the bit, refers to considerable enthusiasm, especially when driven by frustration or impatience. A movie buff may use the term when eager to see a critically acclaimed film, or a computer geek might be chewing to try out a new operating system. The person may barely be able to control himself until an opportunity to take action presents itself. There may just be some minor details or rules that stand between a person and the thing he is most eager to own. The frustration of being artificially restrained at the last minute can be likened to an animal struggling at the end of a leash or chain.
The expression, in fact, can be traced back to the equestrian world. In the horse world, a bit is a small metal rod attached to a harness or bridle. This metal bit fits into a natural space inside the horse’s mouth. The bit serves several purposes, from discouraging the horse from eating wild grasses to guiding its head while connected to the reins. A horse will instinctively chew and bite the bit as long as it remains inside its mouth. The words champ or chomp both refer to the characteristic sound of a horse chewing and biting the bit. Either “champ” or “chomp” are considered correct in modern English, although “champ” has a longer etymological history.
The association with frustration and anxiety can be traced back to horse racing. Racehorses often become conditioned to anticipate the start of a sanctioned race, and it’s not unusual for a particularly anxious or frustrated horse to start chewing on the bit while under control at the starting gate. The horse may also have difficulty escaping or become clearly agitated from being late. When a person becomes overcome with feelings of frustration or anxiety, they could also be described using the same term. The anticipation can often reach a fever pitch before the horse is released from the gate or the child is released to the Christmas tree. The pent-up frustration and anxiety are often replaced by the realization that the actual event or gadget doesn’t live up to the level of hype or anticipation.
A person eager to start a new project or test a new product may experience emotional disappointment after the initial excitement phase, but at least has demonstrated the ability to become passionate and emotionally connected to an innovative or exciting development.
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