Wood On Words » A bit of horse sense

A bit of horse sense

May 30th, 2008 at 07:00am Barry Wood

We recently used the phrase “chomping at the bit,” meaning showing “impatience at restraint,” being “restless.”
It comes from the chewing of a horse on an actual bit, probably because it’s so uncomfortable.

The word “chomping” is still considered a “dialectical variant” of “champing,” so the preferred form is “champing at the bit.”

Similarly, “stamping ground” is better than “stomping ground.”

Entry Filed under: Stamping vs. stomping, Champing vs. chomping

4 Comments Add your own

1. Gregg G | May 30th, 2008 at 8:31 am

Barry, and one of the charter members of the Woodies, I wonder what your take is on the use of that phrase in proper writing at all, as it is probably properly called a cliche (perhaps even with your amendment.) What say you?
2. Barry Wood | June 1st, 2008 at 11:21 pm

To Gregg G.:
I’m not as put off by cliches as some people are. Of course they can be overdone, but a worse offense is using them inappropriately.
The phrase “champing at the bit” should convey the following, which is from “Garner’s Modern American Usage” by Bryan A. Garner:
“The idiom ‘champing at the bit’ evokes the image of an impatient horse, especially one eager for a race to start.” And it “must suggest a kind of friskiness.”
3. Gregg G | June 2nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm

That’s why you have a fan club!
Seriously, though, you have to admit that the (over) use of cliche may signal a lazy writer. Champing at the bit may not be the best example, but there are some phrases that are just painful to hear. Usually you can hear them on Sundays coming out of the mouths of football announcers.

Just an FYI: as the word guy, I thought you would appreciate knowing that on the blog links page, you know, the page that lists all the blogs? — you are listed as the word “guro.” can you give us the origin of “guro?”
4. Barry Wood | June 2nd, 2008 at 11:46 pm

The origin of “guro” is someone mistyping the word “guru.” For more about “guru,” please see my latest post (later today).