lick lips

lick (one's) lips

1. To anticipate eating (something) with great eagerness or appetite. I was licking my lips when the waiter set the juicy steak down in front of me.
2. To show one's impatience or excitement to do something. You should have seen John at the car show. He was licking his lips looking at all those fancy sports cars. My detractors were practically licking their lips when they heard that my proposal had failed.
See also: lick, lip
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

lick one's lips

Fig. to show eagerness or pleasure about a future event. (From the habit of people licking their lips when they are about to enjoy eating something.) The children licked their lips at the sight of the cake. The author's readers were licking their lips in anticipation of her new novel.
See also: lick, lip
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • lick (one's) lips
  • lick your lips
  • lick chops
  • lick one's chops
  • lick (one's) chops
  • lick one's chops, to
  • get a licking
  • as I was saying
  • like I was saying
  • keep one’s cool