Teeth aren’t just for chewing—they’re a rich source of language and expression. From describing courage to showing anger, idioms related to teeth are colorful, memorable, and sometimes funny. Whether you’re chatting with friends or writing thoughtfully, using these idioms can add warmth, personality, and clarity to your communication.
Here, we’ll explore 25 idioms about teeth, explain their meanings, show how to use them in sentences, suggest the best contexts for them, and provide alternative ways to say the same thing.
1. By the skin of your teeth
Meaning: Barely managing to succeed or survive.
Sentence: I passed the exam by the skin of my teeth.
Best Use: Talking about narrow escapes or last-minute successes.
Other Ways to Say: Just in time, barely made it, narrowly escaped.
2. Fight tooth and nail
Meaning: To fight very fiercely.
Sentence: She fought tooth and nail to defend her idea in the meeting.
Best Use: Describing determined effort or struggle.
Other Ways to Say: Battle fiercely, struggle intensely, go all out.
3. Cut your teeth
Meaning: To gain first experience in a field.
Sentence: I cut my teeth as a journalist at a local newspaper.
Best Use: Referring to early career experiences or learning phases.
Other Ways to Say: Start out, gain experience, learn the ropes.
4. Set your teeth on edge
Meaning: Something that annoys or irritates you.
Sentence: That high-pitched sound really sets my teeth on edge.
Best Use: Expressing irritation politely but clearly.
Other Ways to Say: Annoy, frustrate, get under one’s skin.
5. Teeth of the matter
Meaning: The most important or central part.
Sentence: Let’s get to the teeth of the matter in today’s discussion.
Best Use: Highlighting the core issue in conversations.
Other Ways to Say: Heart of the matter, core issue, main point.
6. Sweet tooth
Meaning: A love for sweet foods.
Sentence: I have a serious sweet tooth and can’t resist chocolate.
Best Use: Casual, friendly conversations about food preferences.
Other Ways to Say: Sugar lover, candy enthusiast, dessert fan.
7. By tooth and claw
Meaning: With extreme effort or aggression.
Sentence: Animals survive by tooth and claw in the wild.
Best Use: Describing survival, competition, or struggle.
Other Ways to Say: Fiercely, aggressively, with all effort.
8. Gnash your teeth
Meaning: To show anger or frustration.
Sentence: He gnashed his teeth when he heard the bad news.
Best Use: Expressing emotional intensity in stories or writing.
Other Ways to Say: Grind teeth, fume, rage quietly.
9. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To endure something painful or unpleasant.
Sentence: I had to bite the bullet and tell her the truth.
Best Use: Showing bravery or acceptance of a challenge.
Other Ways to Say: Face the music, endure, tough it out.
10. All teeth and claws
Meaning: Aggressive or fierce.
Sentence: She can be all teeth and claws when defending her family.
Best Use: Describing someone protective or aggressive in spirit.
Other Ways to Say: Fierce, combative, assertive.
11. Sweeten your teeth
Meaning: To indulge in sweets or pleasures.
Sentence: It’s nice to sweeten your teeth after a long day.
Best Use: Lighthearted or casual writing.
Other Ways to Say: Treat yourself, enjoy indulgence, savor sweets.
12. By the teeth
Meaning: Forcefully or with struggle.
Sentence: The team held the line by the teeth until reinforcements arrived.
Best Use: Conveying effort against odds.
Other Ways to Say: With difficulty, by force, stubbornly.
13. Chalk and cheese (teeth reference often implied in contrast)
Meaning: Completely different.
Sentence: My tastes and hers are chalk and cheese.
Best Use: Comparing opposites in personality or choices.
Other Ways to Say: Night and day, poles apart, unlike.
14. Sweet on your teeth
Meaning: To have a liking for sweets.
Sentence: I’m always sweet on my teeth after meals.
Best Use: Casual, friendly discussions about preferences.
Other Ways to Say: Fond of sweets, love desserts, sugar craving.
15. Face the teeth of
Meaning: To confront a tough challenge.
Sentence: The soldiers had to face the teeth of a harsh winter.
Best Use: Dramatic storytelling or motivational writing.
Other Ways to Say: Confront challenges, endure difficulties, brave obstacles.
16. Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: Taking on too much at once.
Sentence: I think I bit off more than I can chew with this project.
Best Use: Work, school, or life advice contexts.
Other Ways to Say: Overcommit, take on too much, overwhelm yourself.
17. Tooth and nail
Meaning: Fighting fiercely, similar to #2.
Sentence: They defended their rights tooth and nail.
Best Use: Legal, social, or personal struggle situations.
Other Ways to Say: Struggle fiercely, fight intensely, battle relentlessly.
18. Rotten to the teeth
Meaning: Completely corrupt or evil.
Sentence: That company was rotten to the teeth in its practices.
Best Use: Moral critique or cautionary tales.
Other Ways to Say: Corrupt, immoral, unethical.
19. By sheer teeth
Meaning: Only by determination or effort.
Sentence: He survived the ordeal by sheer teeth.
Best Use: Emphasizing grit and determination.
Other Ways to Say: Barely, through effort, by persistence.
20. Teeth like pearls
Meaning: Very white or attractive teeth.
Sentence: She smiled with teeth like pearls.
Best Use: Compliments, descriptive writing.
Other Ways to Say: Gleaming teeth, perfect smile, sparkling teeth.
21. Chatter your teeth
Meaning: Shiver or tremble, usually from cold or fear.
Sentence: We chattered our teeth waiting for the bus in the snow.
Best Use: Storytelling, describing physical reactions.
Other Ways to Say: Shiver, tremble, quiver.
22. Sink your teeth into
Meaning: To get fully involved or interested.
Sentence: She sank her teeth into the new project with passion.
Best Use: Expressing engagement or dedication.
Other Ways to Say: Dive in, get involved, immerse yourself.
23. Toothless
Meaning: Ineffective or powerless.
Sentence: The new rules were toothless and easy to ignore.
Best Use: Critique, politics, or authority discussions.
Other Ways to Say: Ineffective, powerless, weak.
24. Bare your teeth
Meaning: Show aggression or anger.
Sentence: The dog bared its teeth at the stranger.
Best Use: Literal or figurative expressions of defense or anger.
Other Ways to Say: Show aggression, threaten, show hostility.
25. Take something between your teeth
Meaning: Handle something energetically.
Sentence: He took the problem between his teeth and solved it quickly.
Best Use: Motivational or action-oriented writing.
Other Ways to Say: Tackle, handle energetically, approach decisively.
FAQs
Q1: Can I use teeth idioms in professional writing?
Yes, if used thoughtfully and sparingly, they can make your writing more relatable and vivid.
Q2: Are these idioms common in daily conversation?
Some, like bite the bullet or sweet tooth, are widely used, while others may be more literary or storytelling-focused.
Q3: Can teeth idioms express emotions?
Absolutely! They convey frustration, determination, pleasure, and aggression effectively.
Q4: Are there cultural variations in these idioms?
Yes, some idioms may be more familiar in English-speaking countries like the UK, US, or Australia.
Q5: How can I remember these idioms easily?
Try linking them to personal experiences or using them in daily sentences. Visualization helps!
Conclusion
Teeth idioms are not just colorful phrases—they are tools for empathy, storytelling, and expression. Whether describing determination, frustration, or joy, these idioms allow you to communicate with warmth and personality. Start experimenting with them in conversations and writing, and watch your expression grow more vivid and meaningful every day.
