# hen's tooth

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hens-tooth
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Anything not naturally occurring.

## Examples

- Finding a cheap apartment in this city is as rare as a hen's tooth.
- Good mechanics are like a hen's tooth in this remote town, so we wait weeks for repairs.
- In a market flooded with mass-produced goods, an authentic handmade watch has become as rare as a hen's tooth.

## Origin

A jocular reference to a non-existent phenomenon, as birds possess bills in place of teeth. The idiom serves as a comparison to other impossibilities, such as *horsefeathers* or the flight of pigs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.