# sour tooth

idiom

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

## Meaning

A liking for foods that are sour.

## Examples

- I have a sour tooth and love eating lemons.
- My friend has a real sour tooth, so she always orders the lime sorbet.
- Despite the common preference for sweetness, his distinct sour tooth leads him to favor fermented dishes and tart citrus fruits.

## Origin

The term is formed by analogy with the phrase *sweet tooth*. Produced by a simple reversal of culinary preference, the expression follows the established linguistic pattern for describing a specific appetitive inclination.

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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.