Match the pictures and the idioms. Write the numbers of the idioms next to the pictures.

Some pictures have more than one corresponding idioms. Two have none.

1. armed to the teeth

2. as scarce as hen's teeth
3. better than a kick in the teeth
4. bit between your teeth
5. by the skin of one’s teeth
6. cut one's eye-teeth on (something)
7. eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
8. fed up to the back teeth
9. fight (someone or something) tooth and
nail
10. get your teeth into
11. give one's eye-teeth (to do something)
12. gnash one's teeth
13. grit one's teeth
14. have a sweet tooth
15. kick in the teeth
16. lie through one's teeth
17. like pulling teeth
18. long in the tooth
19. no skin off (someone's) teeth
20. pull (someone's) tooth out
21. put some teeth into (something)
22. set one's teeth on edge
23. show one's teeth
24. sink one’s teeth into (something)
25. teething problems
26. through gritted teeth
27. tooth and nail
Write the idioms to their meanings

a system of punishment where you punish

someone in the same way that they hurt you

bad news or a sudden disappointment

be extremely irritated and fed up with sg or sy

be fully armed, to have many weapons

be very difficult to do

 become involved in or do something

that is intellectually challenging or
satisfying
 take a bite from some kind of food
by a narrow margin, barely

difficulties and problems experienced in the

early stages of a project/activity

fiercely, (fighting) as hard as possible

fight against someone or something with great

energy

grind one's teeth

grind one's teeth together in anger or from

stress or determination

have much experience with something, to have

done something since one was very young

increase the power of something

lie in a bold manner

like to eat sweet foods

not very good, but better than nothing

of no interest/concern/trouble to someone

old

show one's anger or strength as a warning to

someone not to argue or fight with you

take or have control of a situation.

take someone's tooth out (usually done by a

 Fill in the blanks with the appropriate idiom. Its meaning is given in the
brackets. Mind the tenses.

1. Cheap apartment rentals are (very rare) ________________________________ in

this city.
2. I (didn’t like the idea but was determined) ___________________________ and
began to clean up after the students' party.
3. I often (grind my teeth) ______________________________ gnash my teeth when I
am sleeping.
4. I (bit) __________________________________________ into the apple and took a
bite.
5. I was finally able to (start)__________________________________ into the problem
and find a solution.
6. I went to the dentist so he could(take my tooth out)
___________________________.
7. It is (not my concern) ___________________________ whether my friend comes to
the restaurant with us or not.
8. It was (very difficult) ______________________________ to try and get the boy to
lend us his bicycle.
9. My cousin (started a long time ago ) __________________________ fixing computers
and now he is an expert at it.
10. Our supervisor (was angry) ___________________________ when I began to argue
with him about my job.
11. The citizens (opposed the government) _________________________________over
the government plans for the new airport.
12. The citizens wanted (similar punishment) ____________________________________
________________ when they learned about the child's murder.
13. The girl ____________________________ and she loves chocolate.
14. The government finally (made the new law stronger)__________________________
__________________.
15. The idea that we would have to leave our apartment immediately (made me feel
uncomfortable) ________________________________________.
16. The little boy (badly wanted) ___________________________ to have a little puppy.
17. The man in the restaurant began (told tales) ________________________________
________________ during the criminal investigation.
18. The man was feeling a little (old) ________________________________ and he did
not have much energy.
19. The project has many (difficulties at the beginning) __________________________
that we must deal with.
20. The robbers (had a lot of guns) ___________________________________________
when they robbed the bank.
21. We fought (fiercely) ______________________________ to build the new wing of
the hospital.
22. We were able to catch the train but only (arrived in the last minute)
__________________________________.