sweet tooth

American  

noun

1. a liking or craving for candy and other sweets.

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sweet tooth British  

noun

1. a strong liking for sweet foods

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sweet tooth Idioms  

1. A love for sugary foods, as in You can always please Nell with cake or ice cream; she has a big sweet tooth. This expression dates from the late 1300s, although it then referred not only to sweets but other delicacies as well.

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Etymology

Origin of sweet tooth

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

What Michaels and “SNL” do is play to the American sweet tooth.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

"They are too sweet for me," Alina says, "and I have a sweet tooth."

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

It’s just the right level of sweetness and it doesn’t assault your sweet tooth.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026

My grandmother supplied my sweet tooth with cookies and chocolate at every visit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

“Well, not really, but she’s got a sweet tooth and she’ll probably give us a licorice whip or some jelly beans if we stop by. But we’ll start with Mr. DeVore, the postmaster.”

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool