to the teeth
Idioms-
Completely, fully, as in Obviously new to skiing, they were equipped to the teeth with the latest gear . This idiom dates from the late 1300s. Also see armed to the teeth ; fed to the gills .
-
Also, . Fully committed, as in We're in this collaboration up to our teeth . [First half of 1900s] Both of these hyperbolic usages allude to being fully covered or immersed in something up to one's teeth.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His smile is disarming, but his ideas are armed to the teeth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2025
Before you head outside, armed to the teeth with tools, pause.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 23, 2024
The sticky texture of the raisins causes the sugar to stick to the teeth in the same way as candy, making the mouth more susceptible to cavities, Cortez said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2023
She says this final hurdle feels like "another kick to the teeth" for her and others in the same situation.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2023
I was armed with books the way the navy goes to sea armed to the teeth.
From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
