Teeth are extra than simply tools for biting and chewing—they also play a shocking position in ordinary English expressions. Many idioms use “enamel” as a symbol to deliver thoughts that cross some distance beyond their literal meaning. In one-of-a-kind phrases, teeth would possibly represent braveness, determination, power, or even demanding situations we face in existence.
Understanding these idioms lets you speak more vividly and evidently. They upload characters to conversations, making your English richer and extra attractive.
In this manual, we’ll discover some famous tooth-related idioms, discover the specific meanings in the back of them, and look at examples of ways they’re utilized in real conditions. By giving up, you’ll no longer most effectively understand those expressions but additionally feel assured the use of them for your personal speech and writing. Let’s dive into the arena of “tooth idioms” and find out the memories they inform.
Idioms About Teeth
1. By the Skin of Your Teeth
Meaning: To narrowly keep away from failure or certainly control to be successful.
Example: I made it to the meeting via the pores and pores and skin of my enamel after being caught in site visitors.
Similar Expressions: Just in time, Barely made it.
2. Cut Your Teeth
Meaning: To advantage initially revel in a skill or interest.
Example: She cut her tooth as a journalist writing for a small-town newspaper.
Similar Expressions: Start getting to know, Gain experience.
3. Sink Your Teeth Into
Meaning: To get deeply involved in a few components with enthusiasm.
Example: He’s keen to sink his teeth into his new pix task.
Similar Expressions: Dive into, Get passionate about.
4. Show Your Teeth
Meaning: To act firmly or aggressively to guard yourself or make a factor.
Example: The group showed their teeth to some degree in the heated playoff match.
Similar Expressions: Stand your ground, Act hard.
5. A Kick in the Teeth
Meaning: A sudden disappointment or unfair setback.
Example: Losing the selling after months of hard artwork felt like a kick within the tooth.
Similar Expressions: Huge letdown, Unlucky break.
See also “Dive Into Vibrant Summer Idioms“
6. Lie Through Your Teeth
Meaning: To tell an apparent or deliberate lie.
Example: He lied through his enamel approximately completing the project.
Similar Expressions: Make up a tale, Tell a large fib.
7. Get Your Teeth Into Something
Meaning: To art work on a few aspects with recognition and determination.
Example: I can’t wait to get my teeth into this new advertising marketing campaign.
Similar Expressions: Start running tough, Dive right into a mission.
8. Gnash Your Teeth
Meaning: To specific sturdy frustration or anger.
Example: Fans have been gnashing their enamel over the referee’s desire.
Similar Expressions: Get mad, Fume in anger.
9. Armed to the Teeth
Meaning: Fully prepared or sincerely organized.
Example: The hikers have been armed to the tooth with equipment for the day trip.
Similar Expressions: Fully organized, Well-organized.
10. Set Your Teeth on Edge
Meaning: To cause inflammation or soreness, regularly due to a valid or sensation.
Example: That high-pitched alarm set my enamel on the element right now.
Similar Expressions: Get on your nerves, Annoy you.
11. Fight Tooth and Nail
Meaning: To install excessive try and advantage a few things.
Example: They fought tooth and nail to win the championship.
Similar Expressions: Fight hard, Give it your all.
12. Throw Someone a Bone
Meaning: To provide a small preference or reward.
Example: The supervisor threw the intern a bone via letting her present inside the meeting.
Similar Expressions: Lend a hand, Give a hint help.
13. Tooth and Claw
Meaning: To act with intense strive or aggression.
Example: The entrepreneurs labored tooth and claw to release their startup.
Similar Expressions: With all their power, Work was difficult.
14. Bite the Bullet
Meaning: To face something ugly or difficult with courage.
Example: I decided to chunk the bullet and take the using test once more.
Similar Expressions: Take on the endeavor, face the music.
15. As Rare as Hen’s Teeth
Meaning: Extremely unusual or not likely.
Example: A sunny wintry climate day right here is as rare as chook’s tooth.
Similar Expressions: Hard to discover, One in one million.
16. Grin and Bear It
Meaning: To undergo something unsightly without complaint.
Example: He didn’t revel in the prolonged queue, however he grinned and bore it.
Similar Expressions: Be patient and endure it.
17. Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
Meaning: To take on extra responsibilities than you may cope with.
Example: She bit off more than she must chunk with the aid of agreeing to plot 3 sports right away.
Similar Expressions: Overcommit, Take on too much.
18. Teeth Chattering
Meaning: Shaking because of an immoderate cold or worry.
Example: His enamel had been chattering after reputation within the snow.
Similar Expressions: Shivering, Trembling.
19. Bite Your Tongue
Meaning: To save you from speaking.
Example: I wanted to argue, however I bit my tongue to hold the peace.
Similar Expressions: Hold once more, Keep quiet.
20. To Have Teeth
Meaning: To have real power or effectiveness.
Example: The new regulation has enamel—it’s in fact being enforced.
Similar Expressions: Be effective, Have strength.
21. Long inside the Tooth
Meaning: Old or growing older.
Example: That vehicle is lengthy inside the tooth, but it is despite the fact that it runs properly.
Similar Expressions: Getting vintage, Past your top.
22. Give Your Eye Teeth For Something
Meaning: To strongly choose a few components.
Example: I’d provide my eye teeth to wait for that specific stay universal overall performance.
Similar Expressions: Want badly, Would do whatever for.
23. Toothless
Meaning: Weak or lacking authority.
Example: Without right enforcement, the coverage is toothless.
Similar Expressions: Weak, Ineffective.
24. Pull Teeth
Meaning: To accomplish a few issues tough or get reluctant cooperation.
Example: Getting the youngsters organized for bed modified into like pulling enamel.
Similar Expressions: A difficult venture, Tough undertaking.
25. Bite Me
Meaning: A playful or irritated observation telling a person off.
Example: “Bite me!” she laughed after her brother teased her.
Similar Expressions: Go away, Leave me by myself.
26. Clench Your Teeth
Meaning: To undergo ache or frustration quietly.
Example: He clenched his enamel and completed the marathon.
Similar Expressions: Hold it in, Push thru.
27. Straight from the Horse’s Mouth
Meaning: Directly from the real supply.
Example: I heard it at once from the pony’s mouth that the mission is authorized.
Similar Expressions: Directly, From the delivery.
28. Give Someone a Toothy Grin
Meaning: To supply a tremendous or exaggerated smile.
Example: She gave a toothy grin while she noticed her pals arrive.
Similar Expressions: Smile huge, Big smile.
29. Grit Your Teeth
Meaning: To prepare mentally for a project.
Example: He began the challenging examination, gritting his teeth.
Similar Expressions: Brace yourself, Get organized.
30. Put Your Teeth Into It
Meaning: To provide maximum try and an assignment.
Example: They placed their enamel into the community assignment and completed it in advance of the time table.
Similar Expressions: Focus on, Work with Strive.
31. Chomp at the Bit
Meaning: To be impatient or eager to begin.
Example: The youngsters were chomping at the bit for the university journey.
Similar Expressions: Can’t wait, Excited to begin.
32. Have a Sweet Tooth
Meaning: To have a sturdy liking for sugary substances.
Example: I absolutely have candy teeth and might in no way say no to chocolate.
Similar Expressions: Love sweets, Crave desserts.
33. Lie Like a Rug
Meaning: To inform an obvious falsehood.
Example: He lied like a rug approximately doing his homework.
Similar Expressions: Tell a fib, Be dishonest.
34. As Crooked as a Dog’s Hind Leg
Meaning: Very dishonest or corrupt.
Example: That politician is as corrupt as the back of a dog.
Similar Expressions: Dishonest, Untrustworthy.
35. Hard to Swallow
Meaning: Difficult to accept or accept as true with.
Example: It changed into difficult to swallow after they stated they have been canceling the revel in.
Similar Expressions: Tough to trust, Unbelievable.
MCQs
1. What does the idiom “By the skin of your teeth” mean?
A) To speak dishonestly
B) To narrowly avoid failure or succeed just in time
C) To take on too much work
D) To prepare for something challenging
Answer: B
2. Which idiom means “to gain experience for the first time”?
A) Cut your teeth
B) Bite the bullet
C) Fight tooth and nail
D) Pull teeth
Answer: A
3. If someone says, “I can’t wait to sink my teeth into this project”, they mean:
A) They want to avoid it
B) They are eager to get deeply involved in it
C) They think it’s too difficult
D) They have no interest in it
Answer: B
4. “Show your teeth” suggests:
A) Smiling widely
B) Acting aggressively or defending yourself
C) Telling a lie
D) Speaking politely
Answer: B
5. Which idiom refers to a big disappointment?
A) Bite off more than you can chew
B) A kick in the teeth
C) Armed to the teeth
D) Gnash your teeth
Answer: B
6. What does it mean to “Lie through your teeth”?
A) To exaggerate a little
B) To tell a bold and obvious lie
C) To prepare for something hard
D) To work with great focus
Answer: B
7. If a rule or policy “has teeth”, it is:
A) Weak and ineffective
B) Very strict or effective
C) About to expire
D) Based on tradition
Answer: B
8. Which idiom means “extremely rare”?
A) Armed to the teeth
B) Fight tooth and nail
C) As rare as hen’s teeth
D) Tooth and claw
Answer: C
9. The phrase “bite off more than you can chew” refers to:
A) To eat too much
B) To take on more work than you can handle
C) To speak before thinking
D) To work very hard on something
Answer: B
10. Which idiom means “to endure something unpleasant without complaining”?
A) Grin and bear it
B) Bite your tongue
C) Pull teeth
D) Grit your teeth
Answer: A
11. If someone’s “teeth are chattering”, they are:
A) Angry
B) Laughing
C) Cold or scared
D) Lying
Answer: C
12. What does “Long in the tooth” describe?
A) Being very tall
B) Being very old
C) Having a lot of experience
D) Being very rare
Answer: B
13. “Pulling teeth” is an expression for:
A) Doing something very easy
B) Doing something very hard or getting reluctant cooperation
C) Preparing for success
D) Telling an obvious lie
Answer: B
14. Which idiom is used when someone is impatient to start?
A) Chomp at the bit
B) Bite the bullet
C) Set your teeth on edge
D) Toothless
Answer: A
15. “Have a sweet tooth” means:
A) Enjoying sweet foods
B) Having good dental health
C) Being talkative
D) Wanting revenge
Answer: A
Summary
This article is a detailed manual to English idioms that function the phrase “enamel,” displaying how this everyday time period is used metaphorically to express ideas which include dedication, training, problem, and even dishonesty. Each idiom is explained with its which means, an example sentence, and similar expressions to assist deepen know-how.
The collection includes popular terms like by the skin of your tooth (barely succeeding), reduce your tooth (advantage early revel in), a kick within the teeth (a surprising disappointment), lie thru your tooth (inform an ambitious lie), and chunk off extra than you can chunk (take on too much). These idioms cover an extensive variety of conditions—from perseverance and readiness to demanding situations and setbacks.
The article finishes with a fixed of multiple-desire questions, allowing readers to check their information and practice what they’ve learned, making it both an informative and interactive useful resource for studying teeth-related idioms.
Read more about Idioms At Idiomsinsider