lick (one's) chops


lick (one's) chops

To show one's impatience or excitement to do something. That roast smells so good—I'm just about licking my chops in here! My detractors were practically licking their chops when they heard that my proposal had failed.See also: chops, lick

lick one's chops

Fig. to show one's eagerness to do something, especially to eat something. We could tell from the way the boys were licking their chops that they really wanted a turn at riding the motorcycle. Fred started licking his chops when he smelled the turkey roasting in the oven.See also: chops, lick

lick one's chops

Also, lick one's lips. Anticipate with great pleasure. For example, The kids were licking their chops as Mother described the family vacation plans, or I couldn't help but lick my lips when she talked about the menu. Both expressions allude to anticipating a tasty morsel of food. The second is the older, dating from about 1500 and used interchangeably with lick one's fingers, now seldom heard. The first also served as 1930s jazz slang for warming up, chops meaning "the jaw or mouth" (a usage dating from the 1300s). See also: chops, lick

lick (one's) chops

To anticipate delightedly.See also: chops, lick