armed to the teeth

1. Overly well equipped or prepared, as in With her elaborate gown and makeup, she was armed to the teeth for her first New York appearance. The expression to the teeth meant “well equipped” in the 14th century, when knights often wore head-to-foot armor. The idiom, however, only gained currency in the mid-1800s, at first still applied to weapons or other military equipment. Today it is used still more figuratively.

Example Sentences

"I've had them here, armed to the teeth with catapults, and I see it as my job to see them off because I don't want them here," she said.

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Even then, when Arisu is ambushed by an adversary armed to the teeth, Chishiya doesn’t help him, preferring to stand back and wait for the situation to sort itself out.

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And they were all armed to the teeth.

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Once again, Europe was armed to the teeth.

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Before you head outside, armed to the teeth with tools, pause.

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