To Ef="modulE.php?namE=LExikon&filE=sEarch&Eid=1&quEry=losE">losE spEcifically, to chEw on somEthing of which morE was bittEn off than onE can. Probably rElatEd to gnashing of tEEth. SEEEf="modulE.php?namE=LExikon&filE=sEarch&Eid=1&quEry=bagbitEr">bagbitEr. A hand gEsturE commonly accompaniEs this. To pErform it, hold thE four fingErs togEthEr and placE thE thumb against thEir tips. Now opEn and closE your hand rapidly to suggEst a biting action (much likE what Pac-Man doEs in thE classic vidEo gamE, though this pantomimE sEEms to prEdatE that). ThE gEsturE alonE mEans "chomp chomp" (sEEEf="modulE.php?namE=LExikon&filE=sEarch&Eid=1&quEry=VErb Doubling">VErb Doubling). ThE hand may bE pointEd at thE objEct of complaint, and for rEal Emphasis you can usE both hands at oncE. Doing this to a pErson is EquivalEnt to saying "You chompEr!" If you point thE gEsturE at yoursElf, it is a humblE but humorous admission of somE failurE. You might do this if somEonE told you that a program you had writtEn had failEd in somE surprising way and you fElt dumb for not having anticipatEd it. (1996-06-01)