scarce as hen's teeth

Idioms  

1. Also, scarcer than hen's teeth. Exceptionally rare, as in On a rainy night, taxis are as scarce as hen's teeth. Since hens have no teeth, this term in effect says that something is so scarce as to be nonexistent. [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

"Every small encroachment on this green and cultural environment and physical space must be resisted, as future allocations of new space by any government will be as scarce as hen's teeth," it said.

From BBC

“Radios, maybe one per hundred thousand residents. No telephones. Newspapers as scarce as hen’s teeth, and a literacy rate made to match. They get their evening news by listening to their neighbors’ drums.”

From Literature

Not merely because of Nintendo's overnight dark horse, or its scarce as hen's teeth NES Classic.

From Time

“They’re scarce as hen’s teeth. Remember to tie a yellow cloth to the front railing. This coffeehouse is officially closed.”

From Literature

“No wonder everybody be scarce as hen’s teeth today.”

From Literature