Language is full of colorful expressions that make conversations lively and engaging. These special phrases are called idioms—sayings whose meanings are not always obvious from the words themselves.
Idioms often paint vivid pictures in our minds, making communication more natural and memorable. When it comes to English, idioms about body parts are especially popular, and teeth idioms stand out for their humor, energy, and sharp bite of meaning.
Why learn idioms about teeth? Because they not only add flavor to your speech but also help you understand native English speakers better.
From phrases that describe bravery to sayings about effort and struggle, teeth-related idioms pop up in both casual chats and professional contexts. Mastering them can make you sound more fluent and confident in English.
Did You Know?
Teeth idioms are some of the oldest in the English language. The phrase “tooth and nail” dates back to the 1500s and comes from the idea of fighting with your bare body parts when no weapons are available. Over the centuries, teeth have become symbols of survival, power, age, and even joy in English expressions.
Idioms About Effort and Determination
Bite the bullet
Meaning: To face something difficult with courage.
Example: I hate going to the dentist, but I’ll just bite the bullet and do it.
Alternative: “Grin and bear it.”
Reflection: Used in daily life when someone must accept a tough or unpleasant situation.
By the skin of your teeth
Meaning: To barely succeed at something.
Example: She passed the driving test by the skin of her teeth.
Alternative: “A narrow escape.”
Reflection: Common in casual speech when talking about last-minute success.
Fight tooth and nail
Meaning: To fight very hard for something.
Example: They fought tooth and nail to win the championship.
Alternative: “Leave no stone unturned.”
Reflection: Strong, energetic idiom often used in motivational or storytelling contexts.
Cut your teeth
Meaning: To gain early experience in something.
Example: She cut her teeth in journalism before becoming a novelist.
Alternative: “Get your start.”
Reflection: More formal, often used in career or professional contexts.
Sink your teeth into
Meaning: To get fully involved in something interesting.
Example: He can’t wait to sink his teeth into his new project.
Alternative: “Dive into.”
Reflection: Common in both work and personal life.
To grit your teeth
Meaning: To endure a difficult situation with determination.
Example: She gritted her teeth and finished the marathon despite the pain.
Alternative: “Push through.”
Reflection: Informal and motivational, often used in sports or personal challenges.
Show your teeth
Meaning: To display strength or readiness to fight.
Example: The company finally showed its teeth in negotiations.
Alternative: “Stand your ground.”
Reflection: Often used in business or political contexts.
Idioms About Struggles and Hardship
Kick in the teeth
Meaning: A big disappointment or unfair treatment.
Example: Losing the promotion was a real kick in the teeth.
Alternative: “Slap in the face.”
Reflection: Common in emotional conversations, informal.
Arm to the teeth
Meaning: Fully equipped with weapons or tools.
Example: The soldiers were armed to the teeth.
Alternative: “Well-prepared.”
Reflection: Often used figuratively, not just for weapons but preparation.
Pull someone’s teeth
Meaning: To make someone do something unwillingly.
Example: Getting him to apologize was like pulling teeth.
Alternative: “Drag out.”
Reflection: Informal, daily speech for tough persuasion.
Like pulling teeth
Meaning: Something very difficult to do.
Example: Convincing kids to eat vegetables is like pulling teeth.
Alternative: “An uphill battle.”
Reflection: Casual, humorous expression.
Show your teeth (negative sense)
Meaning: To reveal aggression.
Example: The dog showed its teeth when the stranger came near.
Alternative: “Bare one’s fangs.”
Reflection: Used literally for animals or metaphorically for people.
Cut to the quick (close to teeth roots idea)
Meaning: To deeply hurt someone emotionally.
Example: Her harsh words cut him to the quick.
Alternative: “Hit a nerve.”
Reflection: More literary, formal tone.
Gnash your teeth
Meaning: To express anger or frustration.
Example: Fans gnashed their teeth after the unfair decision.
Alternative: “Fume with anger.”
Reflection: Slightly formal, common in writing.
Sink one’s teeth (negative sense)
Meaning: To attack something aggressively.
Example: The critics sank their teeth into the new movie.
Alternative: “Tear apart.”
Reflection: Used in media, reviews, or negative feedback.
Idioms About Age, Time, and Experience
Long in the tooth
Meaning: Getting old.
Example: He’s getting a bit long in the tooth for football.
Alternative: “Over the hill.”
Reflection: Informal, often light-hearted.
Baby teeth
Meaning: Early, less developed stage.
Example: The company is still in its baby teeth phase.
Alternative: “Growing pains.”
Reflection: Figurative, often for businesses or projects.
Cut one’s wisdom teeth
Meaning: To mature or gain wisdom.
Example: He cut his wisdom teeth during his travels abroad.
Alternative: “Come of age.”
Reflection: Rarely used today, more literary.
Teething troubles
Meaning: Small early problems when starting something new.
Example: The software had a few teething troubles after launch.
Alternative: “Initial hiccups.”
Reflection: Common in business or tech contexts.
Sweet tooth
Meaning: A love for sweet foods.
Example: She has a sweet tooth and never skips dessert.
Alternative: “Sugar craving.”
Reflection: Informal, daily life usage.
Tooth fairy
Meaning: A mythical figure children believe in.
Example: The child left her tooth under the pillow for the tooth fairy.
Alternative: “Santa Claus” (as myth figure).
Reflection: Common in culture, kids’ stories.
Idioms About Emotions and Personality
Set your teeth on edge
Meaning: To irritate or annoy greatly.
Example: That loud chewing sets my teeth on edge.
Alternative: “Get on my nerves.”
Reflection: Casual and descriptive.
Bare your teeth
Meaning: To show hostility or anger.
Example: The rival teams bared their teeth at each other.
Alternative: “Show aggression.”
Reflection: Often used for confrontations.
Sweeten the pill (tooth connection with sugar)
Meaning: To make something unpleasant easier to accept.
Example: He sweetened the pill by offering extra pay for the extra work.
Alternative: “Soften the blow.”
Reflection: Common in formal and informal speech.
Lie through your teeth
Meaning: To lie boldly without shame.
Example: He lied through his teeth about finishing the report.
Alternative: “Blatant lie.”
Reflection: Informal, everyday phrase.
Stick in one’s teeth
Meaning: Something that annoys or troubles you.
Example: His rude comment still sticks in my teeth.
Alternative: “Leaves a bad taste.”
Reflection: More literary, not very common.
Kick someone’s teeth in
Meaning: To beat someone badly (literal or figurative).
Example: The coach promised they’d kick their opponent’s teeth in.
Alternative: “Crush completely.”
Reflection: Very informal, sometimes aggressive.
Cast in one’s teeth
Meaning: To reproach someone for something.
Example: Her sacrifices were cast in her teeth when she asked for help.
Alternative: “Thrown back at you.”
Reflection: Literary, rarely used today.
How to Use These Idioms in Daily Life
- In speaking: Use teeth idioms in casual chats to sound more natural. For example, instead of saying “It was difficult,” you can say, “It was like pulling teeth.”
- In writing: Idioms bring color to essays, stories, or business emails. For instance, “The project had a few teething troubles, but we overcame them.”
- In professional life: Teeth idioms like “cut your teeth” or “sink your teeth into” are excellent for interviews or work presentations. They make you sound fluent and expressive.
Common Mistakes Learners Make With Idioms
- Wrong usage: “He bit the bullet the candy.”
Correct: “He bit the bullet and accepted the bad news.” - Too literal: “She has a sweet tooth, so she eats a lot of teeth.”
Correct: “She has a sweet tooth, so she eats a lot of sweets.” - Mixing idioms: “He passed the test tooth and nail.”
Correct: “He passed the test by the skin of his teeth.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do many idioms mention teeth?
Because teeth symbolize strength, age, effort, and even sweetness. They’re a universal human feature, making them easy to understand.
2. Are teeth idioms formal or informal?
Most are informal, but some (like “cut your teeth” or “teething troubles”) are acceptable in professional contexts.
3. Can I use teeth idioms in exams or academic writing?
Yes, but sparingly. They are better for essays, creative writing, and spoken English rather than very formal reports.
4. What’s the most common teeth idiom?
“By the skin of your teeth” and “fight tooth and nail” are widely used by both native and non-native speakers.
5. How do I practice idioms effectively?
Try using them in sentences daily. Replace plain phrases with idioms until they feel natural in your speech and writing.
Conclusion
Idioms about teeth may sound quirky, but they carry strong meanings and add life to conversations. Whether you’re talking about struggles, determination, age, or emotions, these sayings give your English a sharper edge.
By practicing them, you’ll not only understand native speakers better but also sound more natural yourself. So next time you’re faced with a tough situation, don’t just describe it plainly—sink your teeth into these expressions and show your English skills with confidence.
