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

"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

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

Casey had a pronounced limp and an eyetooth was broken short off, about halfway to the gums, and his lip was cut.

From Casey Ryan by Bower, B. M.

But he also knew that when a dog lowers his head and growls, showing his eyetooth, he means business.

From His Dog by Terhune, Albert Payson

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

“That boost in the memory system is something that many of us in neuroscience would give our eyeteeth to achieve,” he said.

From New York Times ● Dec. 19, 2016

Her teeth were large and crooked, eyeteeth missing.

From "The Fighting Ground" by Avi