Question

Scarce as Hen's Teeth very, very rare or totally nonexistent

Accepted Answer

During the holidays, seats on any flight were as scarce as hen's teeth. This 19th-century American expression—sometimes expressed as "scarcer than a hen's tooth"—comes right from the chicken coop, where hens are found. Hens don't have teeth. They grind up their food in their gizzards (stomachs). Since hen's teeth don't exist, what could be rarer than that?

Idiom	Scarce as Hen's Teeth
Example	During the holidays, seats on any flight were as scarce as hen's teeth.
Meaning	very, very rare or totally nonexistent
Origin	This 19th-century American expression—sometimes expressed as "scarcer than a hen's tooth"—comes right from the chicken coop, where hens are found. Hens don't have teeth. They grind up their food in their gizzards (stomachs). Since hen's teeth don't exist, what could be rarer than that?

Hen's Teeth Scarce Hens Holidays Seats Flight Rare