eyetooth

American  

[ahy-tooth] / ˈaɪˌtuθ /

noun

eyeteeth plural

1. Dentistry. a canine tooth of the upper jaw: so named from its position under the eye.

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idioms

1. cut one's eyeteeth,

   1. to gain sophistication or experience; become worldly-wise.

   2. Also cut one's eyeteeth on. to be initiated or gain one's first experience in (a career, hobby, skill, etc.).

2. give one's eyeteeth, to give something one considers very precious, usually in exchange for an object or situation one desires.

   She would give her eyeteeth for that job.

eyetooth British  

/ ˌaɪˈtuːθ /

noun

1. either of the two canine teeth in the upper jaw

2. to go to any lengths to achieve or obtain (something)

   I'd give my eyeteeth for a radio as good as that

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• eyeteeth
  plural

Etymology

Origin of eyetooth

First recorded in 1570–80; eye + tooth

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

eyetooth eyeteeth

British Foreign Secretary Ernie Bevin, winding up talks in Washington this week, was leaving behind a personal memento: his lower eyetooth, yanked a fortnight ago.

From Time Magazine Archive

A snob, a bully and a coarser man than his creator seems to believe, Brad has a Southernness as sensitive as an aching eyetooth.

From Time Magazine Archive

"For every Greenfield, there are literally scores of other communities who would give their eyetooth for a Wal-Mart store," says Wal-Mart spokesman Don Shinkle.

From Time Magazine Archive

The blunted eyetooth made but a superficial furrow; which served only to madden its victim still further.

From Further Adventures of Lad by Terhune, Albert Payson

Having practiced many times before a mirror, he did not think that any possible watcher would have noticed how his thumb slipped briefly inside his mouth to give one eyetooth a slight twist.

From The Wedge by Fyfe, Horace Brown

Many major museums, Schaffner says, “would give eyeteeth for these works today.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 21, 2026

"Elektra is a piece that conductors would give their eyeteeth to conduct and I've given that piece away three times during my time," he laughed.

From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2023

Palmer told the Chicago Tribune in 1999 that Dench “is an actress who anyone would give their eyeteeth to work with.”

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 26, 2020

His grave has always moved me, and I have walked to it often: like many members of my generation, I cut my eyeteeth on his work.

From New York Times ● Jun. 17, 2011

Her teeth were large and crooked, eyeteeth missing.

From "The Fighting Ground" by Avi