A Complete Guide to Dental Expressions in English
Why Teeth Matter in Language
Have you ever wondered why we say someone is “long in the tooth” when they’re getting older, or why we “sink our teeth into” a challenging project? The English language is filled with fascinating idioms about teeth that paint vivid pictures in our everyday conversations. These dental expressions have been chomping their way through our language for centuries, adding color, humor, and depth to how we communicate.
Idioms are the spice of any language – they’re those quirky phrases where the meaning goes far beyond the literal words. When it comes to teeth-related idioms, we’re talking about expressions that use dental imagery to convey everything from determination and age to frustration and lies. These phrases reveal how deeply our physical experiences, including something as basic as our teeth, shape the way we express abstract concepts and emotions.
What makes idioms about teeth particularly interesting is their universal relatability. After all, everyone has teeth (or at least knows about them!), making these expressions instantly understandable across cultures. Whether you’re learning English as a second language or looking to enrich your native vocabulary, mastering these dental idioms will help you speak more naturally and understand the subtle nuances of English conversation. From boardrooms where executives “cut their teeth” on new challenges to playgrounds where kids learn not to “bite off more than they can chew,” these expressions are everywhere.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the most common and colorful idioms about teeth in the English language. You’ll discover their meanings, see them in action through real-world examples, and even test your knowledge with interactive exercises. By the time you finish reading, you’ll be ready to sink your teeth into using these expressions with confidence!
Complete List of Teeth Idioms and Expressions
Here’s a comprehensive collection of idioms about teeth and teeth-related expressions we’ll explore:
- Long in the tooth – Getting old or aged
- Sink your teeth into – To become fully engaged with something
- Bite off more than you can chew – Take on more than you can handle
- Armed to the teeth – Heavily equipped or prepared
- By the skin of your teeth – Barely managing to do something
- Cut your teeth – Gain initial experience in something
- Fight tooth and nail – Fight fiercely with all your strength
- Get your teeth into – Become deeply involved in something
- Grit your teeth – Endure something difficult with determination
- Have a sweet tooth – Love sugary foods and desserts
- Kick in the teeth – A severe setback or disappointment
- Lie through your teeth – Tell obvious lies without shame
- Like pulling teeth – Something extremely difficult to do
- Set your teeth on edge – Cause irritation or discomfort
- Show your teeth – Display aggression or strength
- Tooth and nail – With maximum effort and determination
- Fed up to the back teeth – Completely frustrated or annoyed
- Give your eye teeth for – Willing to sacrifice a lot for something
- Gnash your teeth – Express frustration or anger
- In the teeth of – In direct opposition to
- Bare your teeth – Show hostility or aggression
- False teeth – Dentures (literal) or fake appearance (figurative)
- Baby teeth – First teeth or early stages of development
- Wisdom teeth – Related to maturity and growing up
- Tooth fairy – Childhood beliefs and innocence
- An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth – Equal retaliation
- Cast in someone’s teeth – Throw back at someone as a reproach
- Dressed to the teeth – Dressed very elegantly
- Tooth decay – Deterioration (literal or figurative)
- Gap-toothed – Having spaces between teeth
- Sharp teeth – Aggressive or dangerous nature
- Milk teeth – Baby teeth; early stages
- Buck teeth – Protruding front teeth
- Toothless – Lacking power or effectiveness
- Teeth chattering – Shaking from cold or fear
- Through clenched teeth – Speaking while angry
- Flash your teeth – Smile broadly
- Teeth and tongue – Speaking ability
- Tooth and claw – Savage fighting
- Clean teeth – Good hygiene or moral standing
- Crooked teeth – Imperfection or dishonesty
- Gold teeth – Wealth display or status
- Grind your teeth – Show frustration or anger during sleep
- Loose tooth – Something unstable
- Missing teeth – Incomplete or imperfect
- Perfect teeth – Ideal or flawless
- Rotten teeth – Corruption or decay
- Straight teeth – Proper or correct
- White teeth – Purity or health
- Yellow teeth – Neglect or age
- Brush your teeth – Clean up or improve
- Pull teeth – Extract information difficultly
- Break your teeth – Fail at something difficult
- Chip a tooth – Minor damage or setback
- Clean your teeth – Prepare or get ready
- Click your teeth – Express disapproval
- Examine the teeth – Look closely at details
- Extract teeth – Remove forcefully
- File teeth – Make sharp or aggressive
- Fix your teeth – Improve appearance
- Knock teeth out – Defeat thoroughly
- Lose teeth – Experience loss or decline
- Pick your teeth – Be satisfied after success
- Polish teeth – Perfect or refine
- Show teeth marks – Evidence of struggle
- Spit teeth – Extreme anger
- Teeth grinding – Stressful situation
- Teeth marks – Evidence left behind
- Teeth rattling – Frightening experience
- Teeth showing – Aggressive display
- Teethe on something – Learn basics with
- Teething troubles – Initial problems
- Teething ring – Comfort or aid
- Through your teeth – Reluctantly speaking
- Under your teeth – Barely audible
- Big teeth – Greedy or ambitious
- Teeth like pearls – Beautiful smile
- Teeth like tombstones – Large, prominent teeth
- Razor-sharp teeth – Dangerous or cutting
- Teeth like a saw – Jagged or rough
- Teeth like needles – Sharp and painful
- Strong teeth – Good foundation
- Weak teeth – Poor foundation
- Teeth and gums – Complete package
- Front teeth – Most visible aspect
- Back teeth – Hidden aspects
- Upper teeth – Superior position
- Lower teeth – Inferior position
- Canine teeth – Aggressive nature
- Molar teeth – Grinding work
- Teeth and bones – Basic structure
- Teeth and claws – Natural weapons
- Teeth and nails – Fighting tools
- Teeth and smile – Appearance
- Teeth and bite – Threat and action
- Teeth and jaw – Speaking apparatus
- Teeth and mouth – Communication tools
- Teeth and lips – Expression tools
- Teeth and face – Overall appearance
- Teeth and all – Everything included
Tooth & Teeth Idioms: A Grouped Reference Guide (Grouped by Meaning)
Aging & Growth Related Tooth Idioms
- Long in the tooth
- Cut your teeth
- Baby teeth
- Milk teeth
- Wisdom teeth
- Teethe on something
- Teething troubles
- Teething ring
Struggle, Effort & Challenge Related Tooth Idioms
- Sink your teeth into
- Get your teeth into
- Bite off more than you can chew
- Fight tooth and nail
- Tooth and nail
- Tooth and claw
- By the skin of your teeth
- Break your teeth
- Grit your teeth
- Like pulling teeth
- Pull teeth
- Cast in someone’s teeth
Lies, Aggression & Hostility Related Tooth Idioms
- Lie through your teeth
- Show your teeth
- Bare your teeth
- Armed to the teeth
- Kick in the teeth
- In the teeth of
- Spit teeth
- Teeth showing
- Knock teeth out
Difficulty, Endurance & Frustration Related Tooth Idioms
- Through clenched teeth
- Through your teeth
- Under your teeth
- Gnash your teeth
- Grind your teeth
- Teeth grinding
- Teeth chattering
- Teeth rattling
- Fed up to the back teeth
- Set your teeth on edge
Food, Desire & Satisfaction Related Tooth Idioms
- Have a sweet tooth
- Pick your teeth
Appearance, Status & Description Related Tooth Idioms
- False teeth
- Gap-toothed
- Sharp teeth
- Buck teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Toothless
- Missing teeth
- Loose tooth
- Rotten teeth
- Yellow teeth
- White teeth
- Straight teeth
- Perfect teeth
- Strong teeth
- Weak teeth
- Clean teeth
- Clean your teeth
- Brush your teeth
- Polish teeth
- Fix your teeth
- Gold teeth
- Teeth like pearls
- Teeth like tombstones
- Teeth like a saw
- Teeth like needles
- Big teeth
Sayings & Proverbs Related Tooth Idioms
- An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
- Dressed to the teeth
- Tooth fairy
- Tooth decay
Actions & Expressions Related Tooth Idioms
- Flash your teeth
- Show teeth marks
- Teeth marks
- Click your teeth
- Examine the teeth
- Extract teeth
- File teeth
- Lose teeth
Combined Expressions Related Tooth Idioms (Teeth with other body parts)
- Teeth and tongue
- Teeth and gums
- Teeth and bones
- Teeth and claws
- Teeth and nails
- Teeth and smile
- Teeth and bite
- Teeth and jaw
- Teeth and mouth
- Teeth and lips
- Teeth and face
- Teeth and all
- Front teeth
- Back teeth
- Upper teeth
- Lower teeth
- Canine teeth
- Molar teeth
Understanding Each Teeth Idiom
1. By the skin of your teeth
Meaning of the Idiom: To barely succeed or escape something; to manage something by the smallest possible margin. This means you almost failed but just managed to make it.
Example in a Sentence: “John passed his driving test by the skin of his teeth – he made just one less mistake than the failing limit.”
Alternative Ways to Say: Just barely, by a whisker, by a hair’s breadth, narrowly, at the last second, close call
2. Cut your teeth / Cut your teeth on something
Meaning: To gain your first experience in a particular field or activity; to learn the basics of something through hands-on practice. This is about getting initial training or experience.
In a Sentence: “Many famous Hollywood directors cut their teeth making low-budget independent films before hitting the big time.”
Other Ways to Say: Learn the ropes, get your feet wet, start out, gain early experience, begin your journey, get initial training
3. Sink your teeth into (something)
Meaning: To become fully involved and engaged with something challenging or substantial. It means to really focus on and commit to a task or project.
In a Sentence: “After months of boring assignments, Sarah was excited to finally sink her teeth into a challenging research project.”
Other Ways to Say: Dive deep into, get stuck into, immerse yourself in, tackle wholeheartedly, engage fully with, throw yourself into
4. Show your teeth
Meaning: To display aggression, strength, or authority; to demonstrate that you’re not weak and can defend yourself. It’s about showing your power when necessary.
In a Sentence: “The usually gentle manager had to show her teeth when employees repeatedly ignored company policies.”
Other Ways to Say: Assert yourself, display strength, flex your muscles, stand your ground, show who’s boss, demonstrate power
5. Kick in the teeth / A kick in the teeth
Meaning: A major disappointment, setback, or betrayal that hurts deeply. This describes something that feels like a harsh blow, especially when unexpected.
In a Sentence: “Being passed over for promotion after five years of excellent work was a real kick in the teeth for Mark.”
Other Ways to Say: Slap in the face, harsh blow, major setback, bitter disappointment, crushing defeat, stab in the back
6. Lie through your teeth
Meaning: To tell very obvious lies without any shame or hesitation; to lie blatantly and boldly even when everyone knows you’re not telling the truth.
In a Sentence: “The politician was lying through his teeth when he claimed he had never met the businessman, despite photos of them together.”
Other Ways to Say: Blatantly lie, tell bold-faced lies, fabricate completely, be utterly dishonest, speak falsely, deceive shamelessly
7. Get your teeth into (something)
Meaning: To become seriously involved in something that requires effort and concentration. Similar to “sink your teeth into” but often implies enjoying the challenge.
In a Sentence: “Tom loves complex puzzles – anything he can really get his teeth into and spend hours solving.”
Other Ways to Say: Dig into deeply, become absorbed in, engage seriously with, focus intensely on, delve into, tackle enthusiastically
8. Gnash your teeth
Meaning: To feel or express great anger, frustration, or regret. This comes from the physical act of grinding teeth together when extremely upset.
In a Sentence: “Investors were gnashing their teeth when they realized they’d sold their shares just before the stock price tripled.”
Other Ways to Say: Express frustration, show anger, display regret, fume with rage, seethe with anger, be extremely upset
9. Armed to the teeth
Meaning: Heavily equipped with weapons, tools, or resources; completely prepared for a situation with everything you might need.
In a Sentence: “The lawyers came to court armed to the teeth with evidence, witnesses, and legal precedents.”
Other Ways to Say: Fully equipped, heavily armed, completely prepared, loaded for bear, well-supplied, thoroughly ready
10. Set your teeth on edge
Meaning: To cause an unpleasant feeling of irritation or discomfort; to make you cringe or feel extremely uncomfortable.
In a Sentence: “The sound of fingernails scratching on a chalkboard really sets my teeth on edge.”
Other Ways to Say: Make you cringe, irritate intensely, get on your nerves, make your skin crawl, cause discomfort, annoy greatly
11. Fight tooth and nail
Meaning: To fight or struggle with all your strength and determination; to use every possible method to achieve something or defend yourself.
In a Sentence: “The small bookstore fought tooth and nail to stay open despite competition from online retailers.”
Other Ways to Say: Fight with everything you’ve got, battle fiercely, struggle desperately, give it your all, fight hammer and tongs, go all out
12. Throw someone a bone
Meaning: To give someone a small reward, concession, or opportunity, usually to keep them satisfied or quiet. It’s like giving a small favor to appease someone.
In a Sentence: “The boss threw Jim a bone by letting him lead a small project after denying his promotion request.”
Other Ways to Say: Give a small concession, offer a token gesture, provide a minor opportunity, make a small gesture, give a little something, appease slightly
13. Tooth and claw
Meaning: Using all violent or aggressive means available; fighting savagely and without restraint. Often used with “red in tooth and claw” to describe nature’s brutality.
In a Sentence: “The two companies competed tooth and claw for the government contract, using every aggressive tactic possible.”
Other Ways to Say: Viciously, savagely, with brutal force, aggressively, ruthlessly, using all means necessary
14. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage; to accept something painful but necessary. Originally from soldiers biting bullets during surgery without anesthesia.
In a Sentence: “I need to bite the bullet and have that difficult conversation with my roommate about the rent.”
Other Ways to Say: Face the music, grin and bear it, take the plunge, accept the inevitable, face up to it, deal with it
15. As rare / scarce as hen’s teeth
Meaning: Extremely rare or almost impossible to find. This comes from the fact that hens don’t have teeth at all, making them non-existent.
In a Sentence: “Good customer service at that store is as rare as hen’s teeth – I’ve never experienced it.”
Other Ways to Say: Extremely rare, almost non-existent, once in a blue moon, needle in a haystack, impossibly scarce, virtually impossible to find
16. Grin and bear it
Meaning: To accept a difficult or unpleasant situation without complaining; to endure something with a positive attitude even though you don’t like it.
In a Sentence: “The AC broke during the heatwave, but we had to grin and bear it until the repair person arrived.”
Other Ways to Say: Put up with it, endure without complaint, accept stoically, tough it out, make the best of it, tolerate patiently
17. Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To take on more work, responsibility, or commitment than you can handle; to overestimate your capacity to deal with something.
In a Sentence: “Maria bit off more than she could chew when she agreed to plan three events in the same week.”
Other Ways to Say: Overcommit yourself, take on too much, overextend yourself, spread yourself too thin, be in over your head, overload yourself
18. Teeth chattering / Teeth-chattering
Meaning: The involuntary clicking of teeth together, usually from cold or fear; used to describe extreme cold or terror that causes physical shaking.
In a Sentence: “It was so cold waiting for the bus that everyone’s teeth were chattering uncontrollably.”
Other Ways to Say: Shivering violently, trembling with cold, shaking with fear, freezing cold, bone-chilling, extremely frightening
19. Bite your tongue
Meaning: To stop yourself from saying something you want to say; to hold back comments that might be inappropriate, hurtful, or cause problems.
In a Sentence: “I had to bite my tongue when my boss took credit for my idea during the meeting.”
Other Ways to Say: Hold your tongue, keep quiet, remain silent, restrain yourself, keep your mouth shut, hold back your words
20. To have teeth / Have teeth in something
Meaning: To have real power, effectiveness, or the ability to enforce something; when rules or laws have actual consequences and can be enforced.
In a Sentence: “The new environmental regulations finally have teeth – companies face huge fines for violations.”
Other Ways to Say: Have real power, be enforceable, have consequences, be effective, carry weight, have authority
21. Long in the tooth
Meaning: Old or aging; past one’s prime. This comes from the fact that horses’ teeth appear longer as they age because their gums recede.
In a Sentence: “My laptop is getting a bit long in the tooth – it takes forever to start up these days.”
Other Ways to Say: Getting old, over the hill, past its prime, showing age, elderly, outdated
22. Give your eye teeth (for something)
Meaning: To be willing to give up something very valuable to get something you desperately want; to sacrifice a lot for something desired.
In a Sentence: “She would give her eye teeth for a chance to sing on Broadway.”
Other Ways to Say: Do anything for, sacrifice everything for, give your right arm for, pay any price for, trade anything for, desperately want
23. Toothless / To be toothless / A toothless tiger
Meaning: Lacking power, effectiveness, or ability to enforce; appearing threatening but actually harmless or unable to take action.
In a Sentence: “The committee’s warnings are toothless – they have no authority to actually punish anyone.”
Other Ways to Say: Powerless, ineffective, harmless, lacking authority, unable to enforce, weak, impotent
24. Like pulling teeth
Meaning: Extremely difficult, painful, or frustrating to do; requiring great effort to extract information or get something done.
In a Sentence: “Getting my teenage son to talk about his day at school is like pulling teeth.”
Other Ways to Say: Extremely difficult, frustratingly hard, painfully slow, like getting blood from a stone, an uphill battle, nearly impossible
25. Bite me
Meaning: A rude, dismissive response meaning “I don’t care” or “leave me alone”; an informal way to tell someone to go away or that their opinion doesn’t matter.
In a Sentence: “When his friend criticized his new haircut, Jake just said ‘Bite me’ and walked away.”
Other Ways to Say: Get lost, who cares, whatever, leave me alone, I don’t care, talk to the hand
26. By the skin of your teeth
Meaning: To barely succeed or escape something; to manage something by the smallest possible margin. This means you almost failed but just managed to make it.
In a Sentence: “John passed his driving test by the skin of his teeth – he made just one less mistake than the failing limit.”
Other Ways to Say: Just barely, by a whisker, by a hair’s breadth, narrowly, at the last second, close call
27. Cut your teeth / Cut your teeth on something
Meaning: To gain your first experience in a particular field or activity; to learn the basics of something through hands-on practice. This is about getting initial training or experience.
In a Sentence: “Many famous Hollywood directors cut their teeth making low-budget independent films before hitting the big time.”
Other Ways to Say: Learn the ropes, get your feet wet, start out, gain early experience, begin your journey, get initial training
28. Sink your teeth into (something)
Meaning: To become fully involved and engaged with something challenging or substantial. It means to really focus on and commit to a task or project.
In a Sentence: “After months of boring assignments, Sarah was excited to finally sink her teeth into a challenging research project.”
Other Ways to Say: Dive deep into, get stuck into, immerse yourself in, tackle wholeheartedly, engage fully with, throw yourself into
29. Show your teeth
Meaning: To display aggression, strength, or authority; to demonstrate that you’re not weak and can defend yourself. It’s about showing your power when necessary.
In a Sentence: “The usually gentle manager had to show her teeth when employees repeatedly ignored company policies.”
Other Ways to Say: Assert yourself, display strength, flex your muscles, stand your ground, show who’s boss, demonstrate power
30. Kick in the teeth / A kick in the teeth
Meaning: A major disappointment, setback, or betrayal that hurts deeply. This describes something that feels like a harsh blow, especially when unexpected.
In a Sentence: “Being passed over for promotion after five years of excellent work was a real kick in the teeth for Mark.”
Other Ways to Say: Slap in the face, harsh blow, major setback, bitter disappointment, crushing defeat, stab in the back
31. Lie through your teeth
Meaning: To tell very obvious lies without any shame or hesitation; to lie blatantly and boldly even when everyone knows you’re not telling the truth.
In a Sentence: “The politician was lying through his teeth when he claimed he had never met the businessman, despite photos of them together.”
Other Ways to Say: Blatantly lie, tell bold-faced lies, fabricate completely, be utterly dishonest, speak falsely, deceive shamelessly
32. Get your teeth into (something)
Meaning: To become seriously involved in something that requires effort and concentration. Similar to “sink your teeth into” but often implies enjoying the challenge.
In a Sentence: “Tom loves complex puzzles – anything he can really get his teeth into and spend hours solving.”
Other Ways to Say: Dig into deeply, become absorbed in, engage seriously with, focus intensely on, delve into, tackle enthusiastically
33. Gnash your teeth
Meaning: To feel or express great anger, frustration, or regret. This comes from the physical act of grinding teeth together when extremely upset.
In a Sentence: “Investors were gnashing their teeth when they realized they’d sold their shares just before the stock price tripled.”
Other Ways to Say: Express frustration, show anger, display regret, fume with rage, seethe with anger, be extremely upset
34. Armed to the teeth
Meaning: Heavily equipped with weapons, tools, or resources; completely prepared for a situation with everything you might need.
In a Sentence: “The lawyers came to court armed to the teeth with evidence, witnesses, and legal precedents.”
Other Ways to Say: Fully equipped, heavily armed, completely prepared, loaded for bear, well-supplied, thoroughly ready
35. Set your teeth on edge
Meaning: To cause an unpleasant feeling of irritation or discomfort; to make you cringe or feel extremely uncomfortable.
In a Sentence: “The sound of fingernails scratching on a chalkboard really sets my teeth on edge.”
Other Ways to Say: Make you cringe, irritate intensely, get on your nerves, make your skin crawl, cause discomfort, annoy greatly
36. Fight tooth and nail
Meaning: To fight or struggle with all your strength and determination; to use every possible method to achieve something or defend yourself.
In a Sentence: “The small bookstore fought tooth and nail to stay open despite competition from online retailers.”
Other Ways to Say: Fight with everything you’ve got, battle fiercely, struggle desperately, give it your all, fight hammer and tongs, go all out
37. Throw someone a bone
Meaning: To give someone a small reward, concession, or opportunity, usually to keep them satisfied or quiet. It’s like giving a small favor to appease someone.
In a Sentence: “The boss threw Jim a bone by letting him lead a small project after denying his promotion request.”
Other Ways to Say: Give a small concession, offer a token gesture, provide a minor opportunity, make a small gesture, give a little something, appease slightly
38. Tooth and claw
Meaning: Using all violent or aggressive means available; fighting savagely and without restraint. Often used with “red in tooth and claw” to describe nature’s brutality.
In a Sentence: “The two companies competed tooth and claw for the government contract, using every aggressive tactic possible.”
Other Ways to Say: Viciously, savagely, with brutal force, aggressively, ruthlessly, using all means necessary
39. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage; to accept something painful but necessary. Originally from soldiers biting bullets during surgery without anesthesia.
In a Sentence: “I need to bite the bullet and have that difficult conversation with my roommate about the rent.”
Other Ways to Say: Face the music, grin and bear it, take the plunge, accept the inevitable, face up to it, deal with it
40. As rare / scarce as hen’s teeth
Meaning: Extremely rare or almost impossible to find. This comes from the fact that hens don’t have teeth at all, making them non-existent.
In a Sentence: “Good customer service at that store is as rare as hen’s teeth – I’ve never experienced it.”
Other Ways to Say: Extremely rare, almost non-existent, once in a blue moon, needle in a haystack, impossibly scarce, virtually impossible to find
41. Grin and bear it
Meaning: To accept a difficult or unpleasant situation without complaining; to endure something with a positive attitude even though you don’t like it.
In a Sentence: “The AC broke during the heatwave, but we had to grin and bear it until the repair person arrived.”
Other Ways to Say: Put up with it, endure without complaint, accept stoically, tough it out, make the best of it, tolerate patiently
42. Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To take on more work, responsibility, or commitment than you can handle; to overestimate your capacity to deal with something.
In a Sentence: “Maria bit off more than she could chew when she agreed to plan three events in the same week.”
Other Ways to Say: Overcommit yourself, take on too much, overextend yourself, spread yourself too thin, be in over your head, overload yourself
43. Teeth chattering / Teeth-chattering
Meaning: The involuntary clicking of teeth together, usually from cold or fear; used to describe extreme cold or terror that causes physical shaking.
In a Sentence: “It was so cold waiting for the bus that everyone’s teeth were chattering uncontrollably.”
Other Ways to Say: Shivering violently, trembling with cold, shaking with fear, freezing cold, bone-chilling, extremely frightening
44. Bite your tongue
Meaning: To stop yourself from saying something you want to say; to hold back comments that might be inappropriate, hurtful, or cause problems.
In a Sentence: “I had to bite my tongue when my boss took credit for my idea during the meeting.”
Other Ways to Say: Hold your tongue, keep quiet, remain silent, restrain yourself, keep your mouth shut, hold back your words
45. To have teeth / Have teeth in something
Meaning: To have real power, effectiveness, or the ability to enforce something; when rules or laws have actual consequences and can be enforced.
In a Sentence: “The new environmental regulations finally have teeth – companies face huge fines for violations.”
Other Ways to Say: Have real power, be enforceable, have consequences, be effective, carry weight, have authority
46. Long in the tooth
Meaning: Old or aging; past one’s prime. This comes from the fact that horses’ teeth appear longer as they age because their gums recede.
In a Sentence: “My laptop is getting a bit long in the tooth – it takes forever to start up these days.”
Other Ways to Say: Getting old, over the hill, past its prime, showing age, elderly, outdated
47. Give your eye teeth (for something)
Meaning: To be willing to give up something very valuable to get something you desperately want; to sacrifice a lot for something desired.
In a Sentence: “She would give her eye teeth for a chance to sing on Broadway.”
Other Ways to Say: Do anything for, sacrifice everything for, give your right arm for, pay any price for, trade anything for, desperately want
48. Toothless / To be toothless / A toothless tiger
Meaning: Lacking power, effectiveness, or ability to enforce; appearing threatening but actually harmless or unable to take action.
In a Sentence: “The committee’s warnings are toothless – they have no authority to actually punish anyone.”
Other Ways to Say: Powerless, ineffective, harmless, lacking authority, unable to enforce, weak, impotent
49. Like pulling teeth
Meaning: Extremely difficult, painful, or frustrating to do; requiring great effort to extract information or get something done.
In a Sentence: “Getting my teenage son to talk about his day at school is like pulling teeth.”
Other Ways to Say: Extremely difficult, frustratingly hard, painfully slow, like getting blood from a stone, an uphill battle, nearly impossible
50. Bite me
Meaning: A rude, dismissive response meaning “I don’t care” or “leave me alone”; an informal way to tell someone to go away or that their opinion doesn’t matter.
In a Sentence: “When his friend criticized his new haircut, Jake just said ‘Bite me’ and walked away.”
Other Ways to Say: Get lost, who cares, whatever, leave me alone, I don’t care, talk to the hand
51. Pull teeth / Pull someone’s tooth
Meaning: To extract information or cooperation with great difficulty; to struggle to get someone to talk or help. Also literally means removing teeth from someone’s mouth.
In a Sentence: “Getting my kids to tell me about their school day is like pulling teeth – they only give one-word answers.”
Other Ways to Say: Extract with difficulty, struggle to obtain, force information out, drag out of someone, pry information from, wrestle answers from
52. Be teeth on edge
Meaning: To be in a state of extreme irritation or nervousness; feeling uncomfortable and anxious about something that bothers you intensely.
In a Sentence: “The constant construction noise next door has me teeth on edge – I can’t concentrate on anything.”
Other Ways to Say: Extremely irritated, on edge, highly anxious, deeply bothered, nerve-wracked, intensely annoyed
53. Have a tooth in your head
Meaning: Usually used in negative form “not have a tooth in your head” meaning to be completely toothless; sometimes means to have any ability to fight or defend oneself.
In a Sentence: “My great-grandmother didn’t have a tooth in her head, but she could still eat almost anything with her gums.”
Other Ways to Say: Be toothless, have no teeth, be defenseless, lack bite, be harmless, have no means to fight
54. Tooth for a tooth / A tooth for a tooth
Meaning: Equal retaliation or revenge; the principle of punishment matching the crime exactly. From the biblical phrase “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”
In a Sentence: “He believes in a tooth for a tooth – if someone wrongs him, he’ll wrong them back equally.”
Other Ways to Say: Equal revenge, tit for tat, eye for an eye, matching retaliation, equivalent payback, proportional punishment
55. Fine-tooth comb
Meaning: To examine something extremely carefully and thoroughly, missing no details; to search meticulously through every small part of something.
In a Sentence: “The detective went through the crime scene with a fine-tooth comb, looking for any tiny piece of evidence.”
Other Ways to Say: Examine thoroughly, search meticulously, inspect carefully, scrutinize closely, investigate in detail, review comprehensively
56. Teething problems
Meaning: Initial difficulties or minor problems that occur when something new is started; early issues that usually get resolved as things develop.
In a Sentence: “The new software system has some teething problems, but they should be fixed in the next update.”
Other Ways to Say: Growing pains, initial difficulties, startup issues, early challenges, beginner problems, launch hiccups
57. Fed to the teeth
Meaning: Completely fed up, frustrated, or disgusted with something; having reached the absolute limit of your patience or tolerance.
In a Sentence: “I’m fed to the teeth with these constant delays – this project should have been finished months ago.”
Other Ways to Say: Completely fed up, utterly frustrated, at the end of your rope, totally disgusted, sick and tired, had enough
58. False teeth
Meaning: Artificial teeth or dentures that replace natural teeth; also used metaphorically to describe something fake, artificial, or insincere.
In a Sentence: “His friendly personality is like false teeth – completely artificial and put on for show.”
Other Ways to Say: Dentures, artificial teeth, fake appearance, phony display, insincere facade, prosthetic teeth
59. Teeth bared
Meaning: Showing teeth aggressively as a sign of hostility or threat; displaying an aggressive stance ready to attack or defend.
In a Sentence: “The two rival companies faced each other with teeth bared, ready for a fierce legal battle.”
Other Ways to Say: Showing aggression, displaying hostility, in attack mode, ready to fight, threatening posture, aggressive stance
60. Teeth on edge
Meaning: Feeling extremely irritated, uncomfortable, or anxious; experiencing a sensation of discomfort that makes you tense or nervous.
In a Sentence: “That high-pitched whistle sets my teeth on edge every time I hear it.”
Other Ways to Say: Highly irritated, making you cringe, extremely uncomfortable, nerve-grating, intensely annoying, causing distress
61. Teeth marks
Meaning: Indentations or impressions left by teeth after biting; evidence of biting or chewing. Can be literal or metaphorical evidence of struggle or conflict.
In a Sentence: “The difficult negotiation left teeth marks on everyone involved – it was brutal and exhausting.”
Other Ways to Say: Bite marks, evidence of struggle, signs of conflict, battle scars, imprints, lasting damage
62. Set your jaw
Meaning: To clench your jaw in determination, anger, or preparation for something difficult; to show resolve through facial expression.
In a Sentence: “She set her jaw and walked into the boss’s office, determined to ask for that raise.”
Other Ways to Say: Show determination, display resolve, prepare for battle, steel yourself, brace yourself, show grit
63. Toothache
Meaning: Literal pain in a tooth; metaphorically, a persistent annoying problem or person that causes constant discomfort or trouble.
In a Sentence: “That broken printer has become a real toothache for our office – it causes problems every single day.”
Other Ways to Say: Persistent problem, constant annoyance, ongoing pain, nagging issue, chronic trouble, recurring headache
64. Bright as a new penny
Meaning: Very bright, shiny, and clean; often describing someone who is cheerful, fresh, and enthusiastic. Sometimes refers to clean, white teeth.
In a Sentence: “After her dental cleaning, her teeth were as bright as a new penny.”
Other Ways to Say: Sparkling clean, shiny and new, gleaming bright, fresh and clean, brilliantly polished, pristine
65. Teeth grinding / Make your teeth grind
Meaning: Physical grinding of teeth from stress or anger; something that causes extreme frustration or annoyance that makes you physically tense.
In a Sentence: “His constant excuses make my teeth grind – I can’t stand listening to them anymore.”
Other Ways to Say: Extremely frustrating, stress-inducing, anger-provoking, tension-causing, infuriating, maddening
66. Toothsome
Meaning: Delicious and appetizing; attractive or appealing to taste. Can also mean sexually attractive in old-fashioned usage.
In a Sentence: “The bakery window displayed an array of toothsome pastries that made everyone stop and stare.”
Other Ways to Say: Delicious, appetizing, mouth-watering, tempting, delectable, scrumptious
67. Teeth on fire
Meaning: Experiencing intense tooth pain; metaphorically, being in a state of extreme urgency, excitement, or passionate anger about something.
In a Sentence: “After eating that ice cream too fast, my teeth were on fire from the cold sensitivity.”
Other Ways to Say: Intense pain, burning sensation, extreme discomfort, sharp agony, severe ache, excruciating feeling
68. Clean as a whistle
Meaning: Extremely clean, pure, or free from dirt; completely innocent or free from guilt or wrongdoing. Often used about teeth after cleaning.
In a Sentence: “After the investigation, his record came back clean as a whistle – no violations at all.”
Other Ways to Say: Spotlessly clean, perfectly pure, completely innocent, squeaky clean, pristine, immaculate
69. Chewing the fat
Meaning: Having a long, leisurely conversation about unimportant things; chatting casually and gossiping with someone in a relaxed way.
In a Sentence: “The old friends spent hours chewing the fat over coffee, catching up on neighborhood gossip.”
Other Ways to Say: Chatting casually, gossiping, shooting the breeze, having a chinwag, talking idly, conversing leisurely
70. Smile from ear to ear
Meaning: To have an extremely wide, happy smile that shows you’re very pleased or delighted about something; beaming with joy.
In a Sentence: “When she got accepted to her dream college, she was smiling from ear to ear for days.”
Other Ways to Say: Grin widely, beam with joy, smile broadly, show huge happiness, display pure delight, radiate happiness
71. Tooth fairy
Meaning: The mythical creature who takes children’s lost teeth from under pillows and leaves money; metaphorically, believing in something unrealistic or childish.
In a Sentence: “Thinking you’ll get rich quick with that scheme is like believing in the tooth fairy – it’s not going to happen.”
Other Ways to Say: Wishful thinking, childish belief, unrealistic hope, fantasy, naive expectation, impossible dream
72. Tooth and nail (variant)
Meaning: With all one’s resources and energy; using every possible means. While similar to “fight tooth and nail,” this is sometimes used independently to mean “completely” or “thoroughly.”
In a Sentence: “They opposed the new regulations tooth and nail, using every legal argument available.”
Other Ways to Say: With everything available, using all means, completely and thoroughly, with full force, all-out, comprehensively
73. Bite someone’s head off
Meaning: To respond to someone with unexpected anger or harsh criticism; to snap at someone verbally in an overly aggressive way.
In a Sentence: “I just asked a simple question, and she bit my head off – she must be having a bad day.”
Other Ways to Say: Snap at someone, respond angrily, lash out verbally, attack harshly, react aggressively, blow up at
74. In the tooth and nail
Meaning: Being in the thick of fierce competition or conflict; deeply involved in an intense struggle or fight using all available means.
In a Sentence: “The two companies are in the tooth and nail of a bidding war for the government contract.”
Other Ways to Say: In fierce competition, deeply embroiled, in the thick of battle, intensely fighting, locked in struggle, heavily engaged
75. To chew the fat
Meaning: To have a relaxed, informal conversation; to chat leisurely about various topics without any urgent purpose or serious discussion.
In a Sentence: “Come over this weekend and we’ll chew the fat like old times – I miss our long talks.”
Other Ways to Say: Chat casually, have a gossip, talk leisurely, shoot the breeze, have a chinwag, converse informally
76. To have teeth like a shark
Meaning: To have very sharp, prominent, or numerous teeth; metaphorically, to be predatory, aggressive, or dangerous in business or personal dealings.
In a Sentence: “That lawyer has teeth like a shark – she tears apart the opposition in court without mercy.”
Other Ways to Say: Predatory nature, aggressive personality, dangerous opponent, ruthless character, fierce competitor, sharp and deadly
77. Be in the tooth and nail
Meaning: To be engaged in fierce, intense conflict or competition; being in the middle of a brutal struggle where all means are being used.
In a Sentence: “The two political parties are in the tooth and nail over the new healthcare legislation.”
Other Ways to Say: In fierce battle, locked in conflict, deeply embroiled, intensely fighting, in heated competition, engaged in struggle
78. A biting remark
Meaning: A sharp, critical, or sarcastic comment that is meant to hurt or criticize; a cutting statement that stings emotionally.
In a Sentence: “Her biting remark about his appearance left him feeling embarrassed and hurt for days.”
Other Ways to Say: Cutting comment, sharp criticism, sarcastic statement, hurtful words, stinging observation, caustic remark
79. To keep your teeth clean
Meaning: Literally means maintaining dental hygiene; metaphorically, to stay out of trouble, maintain good behavior, or keep your reputation intact.
In a Sentence: “If you want to get that promotion, you’d better keep your teeth clean and avoid any office drama.”
Other Ways to Say: Stay out of trouble, maintain good behavior, keep clean record, avoid problems, remain respectable, stay above board
80. To have sharp teeth
Meaning: To be dangerous, aggressive, or capable of causing harm; having the ability to attack or defend effectively in business or personal situations.
In a Sentence: “Don’t underestimate her quiet demeanor – she has sharp teeth when it comes to protecting her team.”
Other Ways to Say: Be dangerous, have bite, be formidable, possess power, be threatening, have attacking capability
81. To have a toothless grin
Meaning: A smile showing missing teeth; metaphorically, appearing harmless, powerless, or unable to threaten despite trying to seem intimidating.
In a Sentence: “The new regulations have a toothless grin – they look impressive but have no real enforcement power.”
Other Ways to Say: Harmless smile, powerless appearance, ineffective display, weak presentation, impotent gesture, benign expression
82. To be like a dog with a bone
Meaning: To be extremely persistent and refuse to give up on something; to hold onto an idea or pursuit stubbornly and not let go.
In a Sentence: “Once she gets an idea in her head, she’s like a dog with a bone – she won’t stop until it’s completed.”
Other Ways to Say: Extremely persistent, stubbornly determined, won’t let go, tenacious, relentless, obsessively focused
83. To have teeth marks
Meaning: To show evidence of a struggle, conflict, or difficult experience; bearing the scars or signs of having been through something challenging.
In a Sentence: “After that brutal merger negotiation, everyone involved had teeth marks – it was exhausting for all parties.”
Other Ways to Say: Show battle scars, bear evidence, display damage, have proof of struggle, show wear, carry marks
84. To grind your teeth
Meaning: To rub teeth together, often unconsciously during sleep or stress; metaphorically, to be extremely frustrated, angry, or stressed about something.
In a Sentence: “The constant delays in the project make me grind my teeth with frustration every night.”
Other Ways to Say: Show frustration, display stress, express anger, be extremely annoyed, feel tense, demonstrate anxiety
85. To go through the mill
Meaning: To experience a difficult, exhausting, or challenging period; to undergo hardship or rigorous testing that leaves you worn out.
In a Sentence: “After that intense job interview process, I feel like I’ve been through the mill – they questioned everything.”
Other Ways to Say: Experience hardship, undergo difficulty, face tough times, endure challenges, suffer trials, go through ordeal
86. To show your true colors
Meaning: To reveal your real character, personality, or intentions, especially when they’re different from what you previously displayed.
In a Sentence: “When money got tight, he showed his true colors by abandoning his business partners.”
Other Ways to Say: Reveal real self, expose true nature, display actual character, unmask yourself, show real intentions, drop the facade
87. To cut your teeth on the job
Meaning: To gain your first work experience in a particular field; to learn by doing actual work rather than through formal training.
In a Sentence: “Most successful chefs cut their teeth on the job, starting as dishwashers and working their way up.”
Other Ways to Say: Learn by doing, gain hands-on experience, start from bottom, learn practically, begin career, get initial training
88. To have a tough row to hoe
Meaning: To face a difficult task or challenging situation ahead; having a hard job to complete or difficult path to follow.
In a Sentence: “Single parents have a tough row to hoe, balancing work, childcare, and household responsibilities alone.”
Other Ways to Say: Face difficult task, have hard path, encounter challenges, deal with hardship, handle tough situation, confront difficulties
89. By the skin of your teeth (repeated)
Meaning: Barely succeeding or escaping; managing something by the smallest possible margin; just making it through a close call.
In a Sentence: “She graduated by the skin of her teeth, passing her final exam with just one point above failing.”
Other Ways to Say: Just barely, narrowly escape, close call, barely make it, scrape through, near miss
90. Bite the bullet (repeated)
Meaning: To face something difficult or unpleasant with courage; to accept and deal with a painful but necessary situation.
In a Sentence: “I need to bite the bullet and finally have that surgery I’ve been postponing for months.”
Other Ways to Say: Face the music, accept the inevitable, confront difficulty, deal with it, take the plunge, endure hardship
91. Break the ice
Meaning: To initiate conversation in an awkward situation; to make people feel more comfortable by starting friendly interaction or removing tension.
In a Sentence: “The presenter told a funny joke to break the ice before starting the serious presentation.”
Other Ways to Say: Start conversation, ease tension, warm up atmosphere, initiate interaction, remove awkwardness, get things started
92. Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: To be extremely expensive; to cost far more money than seems reasonable or that you can easily afford.
In a Sentence: “Getting my car repaired at that dealership cost an arm and a leg – never going back there.”
Other Ways to Say: Extremely expensive, cost a fortune, overpriced, ridiculously costly, break the bank, highway robbery
93. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To waste time being upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed; to dwell on past mistakes unnecessarily.
In a Sentence: “Yes, you failed the test, but don’t cry over spilled milk – focus on the next one instead.”
Other Ways to Say: Dwell on the past, waste time regretting, focus on unchangeable things, lament uselessly, mourn what’s done, regret pointlessly
94. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To be exactly right about something; to identify or express something perfectly accurately; to get to the precise point.
In a Sentence: “When you said the problem was poor communication, you hit the nail on the head.”
Other Ways to Say: Be exactly right, perfectly accurate, spot on, precisely correct, absolutely right, bulls-eye
95. It’s a piece of cake
Meaning: Something that is very easy to do; a task that requires little effort or skill to complete successfully.
In a Sentence: “After studying for weeks, the final exam was a piece of cake for most students.”
Other Ways to Say: Very easy, simple task, effortless, child’s play, walk in the park, breeze
96. Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: To accomplish two different things with a single action; to achieve multiple objectives efficiently with one effort.
In a Sentence: “By walking to work, I kill two birds with one stone – getting exercise and saving gas money.”
Other Ways to Say: Achieve two goals, double accomplishment, efficient solution, two for one, accomplish multiple things, maximize efficiency
97. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret accidentally or carelessly; to disclose information that was supposed to be kept confidential.
In a Sentence: “Tom let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party when he asked Sarah about her birthday plans.”
Other Ways to Say: Reveal a secret, spill the beans, disclose information, give away surprise, leak information, blow the secret
98. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely; something that happens extremely infrequently or almost never occurs.
In a Sentence: “My teenage son cleans his room once in a blue moon – maybe twice a year if we’re lucky.”
Other Ways to Say: Very rarely, extremely seldom, hardly ever, almost never, infrequently, rare occurrence
99. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision; the responsibility for the next move is yours.
In a Sentence: “I’ve made my offer for the house – now the ball is in your court to accept or counter.”
Other Ways to Say: Your turn, your decision, up to you, your responsibility, your move, in your hands
100. When it rains, it pours
Meaning: When something bad happens, multiple bad things tend to happen at once; problems or good fortune tend to come in groups.
In a Sentence: “First my car broke down, then I got sick, then I lost my wallet – when it rains, it pours.”
Other Ways to Say: Problems come together, troubles multiply, bad things cluster, misfortunes compound, everything at once, cascade of problems
Test Your Knowledge of Teeth Idioms
Now that you’ve learned these idioms about teeth, let’s test your understanding with a fill-in-the-blanks exercise. This will help reinforce your knowledge and build confidence in using these expressions naturally.
Fill in the Blanks Exercise
Complete each sentence with the correct teeth idiom from the word bank. Each idiom should be used only once.
sweet tooth, pulling teeth, sink your teeth into, long in the tooth, by the skin of your teeth, grit your teeth, armed to the teeth, cut their teeth, lie through your teeth, kick in the teeth, fight tooth and nail, fed up to the back teeth, set my teeth on edge, teething troubles, gnashing his teeth
Q1: Getting my teenager to clean his room is like ____________ – it takes forever and lots of nagging!
Q2: She has such a ____________ that she orders dessert before her main course at restaurants.
Q3: The old computer system is getting ____________ and desperately needs to be replaced.
Q4: I barely made my flight, arriving at the gate ____________ just as they were closing it.
Q5: Many successful lawyers ____________ working as paralegals or clerks first.
Q6: The detective came to the interrogation ____________ with evidence, witness statements, and recordings.
Q7: Sometimes you just have to ____________ and deal with difficult situations without complaining.
Q8: After working on simple tasks all week, I’m ready to ____________ a really challenging project.
Q9: Not getting the promotion after being promised it was a real ____________ for Sarah.
Q10: Don’t ____________ about your experience on your resume – they will check your references!
Answer Key
Fill in the Blanks Answers:
- pulling teeth
- sweet tooth
- long in the tooth
- by the skin of your teeth
- cut their teeth
- armed to the teeth
- grit your teeth
- sink your teeth into
- kick in the teeth
- lie through your teeth
Conclusion: Making Teeth Idioms Part of Your Vocabulary
Congratulations! You’ve just explored 25 essential idioms about teeth that will add bite to your English conversations. From expressions about age like “long in the tooth” to phrases about determination like “fight tooth and nail,” these idioms offer colorful ways to express yourself that go far beyond literal meanings.
Quick Recap: Why These Idioms Matter
- Universal Understanding: Teeth-related expressions connect with everyone because we all understand dental experiences, making these idioms particularly memorable and relatable
- Versatile Usage: These idioms work in various contexts – from casual conversations where you might mention your “sweet tooth” to professional settings where you “cut your teeth” on new projects
- Cultural Fluency: Mastering these expressions helps you sound more natural and understand native speakers better, especially in movies, books, and everyday conversations
Your Next Steps with Teeth Idioms
Now that you’ve learned these idioms about teeth, here’s how to make them stick:
Start by choosing 3-5 idioms that resonate with your daily life. Maybe you’re “fighting tooth and nail” for a promotion, or perhaps you’re ready to “sink your teeth into” a new hobby. Use these expressions in your conversations this week – the more you practice, the more natural they’ll become. Remember, language learning isn’t about memorizing; it’s about actively using what you’ve learned.
Consider keeping a journal where you note down when you hear these idioms in real life. You’ll be surprised how often idioms about teeth appear in English media, from news headlines about politicians who “bare their teeth” to product reviews mentioning something that “sets their teeth on edge.” This active listening will reinforce your learning and help you understand the subtle contexts where each expression works best.
The Power of Idiomatic Expression
Idioms are more than just quirky phrases – they’re windows into how languages evolve and how cultures think. When you use teeth idioms effectively, you’re not just communicating; you’re connecting with English speakers on a deeper level. You’re showing that you understand not just the words, but the culture and humor behind them.
Whether you’re an English learner aiming to sound more fluent, a writer looking to spice up your prose, or simply someone who loves language, these idioms about teeth are valuable tools in your communication toolkit. They can help you express frustration more colorfully (“like pulling teeth”), describe determination more vividly (“grit your teeth”), or add humor to your observations (“long in the tooth”).
Keep Learning and Growing
Language is a living thing, constantly evolving with new expressions while preserving these time-tested idioms. Don’t stop here – explore other categories of idioms, from body parts to animals to food. Each group offers unique insights into English-speaking cultures and new ways to express yourself.
Remember: every native English speaker had to learn these idioms too. Nobody is born knowing that “by the skin of your teeth” means a narrow escape or that being “armed to the teeth” has nothing to do with dental equipment. Be patient with yourself, practice regularly, and soon these expressions will roll off your tongue as naturally as, well, showing your teeth when you smile!
Ready to sink your teeth into more English idioms? The world of idiomatic expressions is vast and fascinating – and now you’ve got a solid bite-sized chunk to start with. Use these idioms about teeth confidently, and watch how they transform your English from textbook-correct to naturally expressive. After all, that’s something to really smile about!
Further Learning Resources
- Practice Daily: Try using one new teeth idiom each day in conversation or writing
- Watch and Listen: Pay attention to these idioms in English movies, podcasts, and TV shows
- Join Communities: Find online forums or local conversation groups where you can practice these expressions
- Create Flashcards: Make visual cards linking each idiom to its meaning for quick review
Teach Others: Share these idioms with fellow English learners – teaching reinforces your own understanding