Champing at the Bit

Posted by Tom on February 28, 2001

In Reply to: Champing at the Bit posted by Amy Fifer on November 30, 2000

: Does anyone know the meaning and origin of champing at the bit?

I believe that it refers to a horse(or person) that is eager to go. The horset has as a part of its head harness a "bit" which goes in its mouth from side to side. it is this piece that the rider pulls on to slide the bit backwards in the horses mouth causing some pain so that the horse gets this signal and translates it as a message to slow down