set one's teeth on edge

Cultural  

1. Something that one finds intensely irritating may be said to “set one's teeth on edge”: “The mayor's sexist remark set my teeth on edge.”

---

set one's teeth on edge Idioms  

1. Irritate, annoy, make one cringe, as in That raucous laugh sets my teeth on edge. This expression alludes to the shuddering feeling evoked by a grating noise or similar irritation. It appears in several books of the Bible and was also used by Shakespeare. [c. 1600]

---

Example Sentences

It was a noise that set one’s teeth on edge and bristled the hair at the back of one’s neck.

From Literature

Five different shades of red on the same hat are enough to set one's teeth on edge.

From Project Gutenberg

"It does set one's teeth on edge," agreed the chevalier.

From Project Gutenberg

Even the leathery, grim old face of Ned Saddler relaxed into a pleasant expression at the sound of it, though 'twas against his will to allow himself to show anything of happiness he felt; for he was much like a small, tart winter apple, wholesome and sound at heart, yet sour enough to set one's teeth on edge.

From Project Gutenberg

Examples of Hebrew idiom that have become English via the Bible include: "to set one's teeth on edge", "by the skin of one's teeth", "the land of the living" and "from strength to strength".

From BBC