Teeth Tooth Tuːθ Answered Clenched I Mouth Cat

• i've just had a tooth out at the dentist's.
• to brush/clean your teeth
• tooth decay
• she answered through clenched teeth (= opening her mouth only a little because of anger).

tooth

1. any of the hard white structures in the mouth used for biting and chewing food
• see also buck teeth
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/buck-teeth
• I've just had a tooth out at the dentist's.
• to brush/clean your teeth
• tooth decay
• She answered through clenched teeth (= opening her mouth only a little because of anger).
• The cat sank its teeth into his finger.
2. a narrow pointed part that sticks out of an object
• see also fine-tooth comb
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/fine-tooth-comb
• the teeth on a saw
• The teeth of the cog should fit into these grooves.
3. having many weapons
4. to show your teeth in an aggressive and threatening way
• The dog bared its teeth and growled.
5. if you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just manage to do it
• He escaped defeat by the skin of his teeth.
6. to do something that gives you your first experience of a particular type of work
• She cut her teeth on local radio.
7. to grow a new tooth
8. used to say that you should punish somebody by doing to them what they have done to you or to somebody else
• They advocate a justice system that works on the principle of an eye for an eye.
9. to fight in a very determined way for what you want
• The residents are fighting tooth and nail to stop the new development.
10. to become very enthusiastic about something that you have started to do so that you are unlikely to stop until you have finished
11. to put a lot of effort and enthusiasm into something that is difficult enough to keep you interested
• Choose an essay topic that you can really get your teeth into.
12. used when you are saying that you want something very much
• I'd give my eye teeth to own a car like that.
13. to feel very angry and upset about something, especially because you cannot get what you want
• See related entries: Anger
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/anger/tooth_2
• He'll be gnashing his teeth when he hears that we lost the contract.
• The news caused great wailing and gnashing of teeth.
14. to bite your teeth tightly together
• She gritted her teeth against the pain.
• ‘Stop it!’ he said through gritted teeth.
15. to be determined to continue to do something in a difficult or unpleasant situation
• It started to rain harder, but we gritted our teeth and carried on.
16. to like food that contains a lot of sugar
17. to be powerful and effective
18. used to express anger or surprise
• Hell’s teeth, I promised I’d be back by two.
19. despite problems, opposition, etc.
• The new policy was adopted in the teeth of fierce criticism.
20. in the direction that a strong wind is coming from
• They crossed the bay in the teeth of a howling gale.
21. to treat somebody badly or fail to give them help when they need it
22. a great disappointment; something that hurts somebody/something emotionally
• The job losses are a kick in the teeth for the union.
23. to say something that is not true at all
• The witness was clearly lying through his teeth.
24. used to say that it is very difficult to make somebody do something
• It's like pulling teeth trying to get him to talk.
25. used when you are telling somebody the essential facts about something or what effect it will have, without explaining all the details
26. involving opposition or competition that is violent and without pity
• nature, red in tooth and claw
27. to make somebody feel physically uncomfortable
• Just the sound of her voice sets my teeth on edge.

Extra Examples

• Alan hissed from behind his clenched teeth.
• Billy’s first tooth is now through.
• Does the tooth fairy really exist?
• He broke off what he was saying, clamping his teeth together.
• He clashed the spoon against his teeth as he ate.
• Her smile showed crooked teeth.
• Her teeth flashed as she smiled.
• His pipe was firmly clamped between his teeth.
• I lost three teeth in the fight.
• I still have one of my baby teeth.
• I used to be self-conscious of my prominent teeth.
• Mink have razor-sharp teeth.
• She answered the phone with a cigarette between her teeth.
• She answered through clenched teeth.
• She wore a brace to correct her gappy teeth.
• Skyscrapers rose like jagged teeth.
• Sugar rots your teeth.
• The baby’s crying because he’s cutting a new tooth.
• The cat came in with a mouse in its teeth.
• The cat left teeth marks in my arm.
• The dog bared its teeth at us and growled.
• The man smiled, revealing perfect white teeth.
• Their teeth were chattering with cold.
• a reporter who cut her teeth working in Soweto

Word Origin

• Old English tōth (plural tēth), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch tand and German Zahn, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin dent-, Greek odont-.