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

See Examples For:

set one's teeth on edge

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

From "1984" by George Orwell

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

From The Maid of Honour, Vol. 1 (of 3) A Tale of the Dark Days of France by Lewis Wingfield

The machine-like gestures of the little preachers with arms too short for the work, were answered by words learned by rote, so false as to set one's teeth on edge.

From The Nabob, Volume 1 by George Burnham Ives

The tone of the Assistant Commissioner’s remarks had been sour enough to set one’s teeth on edge.

From The Secret Agent a Simple Tale by Joseph Conrad

The interior, all gilt and glitter, set one's teeth on edge, but that did not alter the outward effect.

From Glories of Spain by Charles W. (William) Wood