pull teeth
To do something that is especially difficult or effortful.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Getting him to talk about his day is like pulling teeth.”
“Trying to get the team to agree on a new schedule was like pulling teeth.”
“Extracting a clear answer from the reluctant witness felt like pulling teeth, as he carefully avoided every direct question I asked.”
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arm to the teeth
To equip thoroughly with weapons.
- 02
bare one's teeth
To show aggression.
- 03
bone in her teeth
(of a boat or ship) A prominent bow wave (as a result of high speed).
- 04
cast in someone's teeth
To accuse someone of something, or reproach them for it.
- 05
cut one's teeth
To begin; to gain early experience.
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gnash one's teeth
To grind or strike the teeth together in anger, signaling extreme rage, frustration, pain, or ferocity.
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gravity's pull
Stress or pressure of a situation acting upon a person.
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grit one's teeth
To face up to a difficult or disagreeable situation and deal with it.
Last updated August 10, 2026