bare (one's) teeth
(redirected from bear our teeth)
Like this video? Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day!
bare (one's) teeth
To display an angry, violent, or threatening reaction to or against something or someone, as does a dog or wolf when threatened. I will bare my teeth to anyone who tries to take away my land. We seemed to be getting along just fine, but she suddenly bared her teeth when I brought up religion. In my opinion, he's just very insecure and that's why he'll suddenly bare his teeth over some innocuous comment.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
bare one's teeth
Also, show one's teeth. Indicate hostility and readiness to fight, as in His refusal to accept my offer made it clear I'd have to bare my teeth, or In this instance, calling in a lawyer is showing one's teeth. This figurative term transfers the snarl of a dog to human anger. It first was recorded as show one's teeth in 1615.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
bare your ˈteeth
show your teeth in a fierce and threatening way: The dog bared its teeth and growled.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017