to bite upon the bridle
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To champ the bit, like an impatient or restless horse.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to bite upon the bridle” mean?
To champ the bit, like an impatient or restless horse.
Is “to bite upon the bridle” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.