as scarce as hen's teeth
Meaning: Extremely rare.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Tickets for the final are as scarce as hen's teeth.”
Category: Animals
Origin: Hens have no teeth at all. The comparison is American, recorded from the 19th century.
Other ways to say this
- Italian: Ogni morte di papa — literally: Every death of a pope
- English: Once in a blue moon — literally: Once in a blue moon
- Afrikaans: So skaars soos hoendertande — literally: As scarce as hen's teeth
- Spanish: cada muerte de obispo — literally: each death of bishop
- Spanish: de Pascuas a Ramos — literally: from Easter to Palm Sunday
- Portuguese: de vez em nunca — literally: of time in never
More idioms — Animals
- like a headless chicken — In a frantic, disorganized way.
- Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard — It's nothing special or impressive.
- Avoir le cafard — To feel depressed or down.
- Poser un lapin — To stand someone up on a date.
- Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter — To have more important things to do.
- Da steppt der Bär — It's going to be a great party.
More English idioms
- half a loaf is better than none — Getting part of what you want is better than getting nothing.
- have a big mouth — To talk too much, especially about things that should be kept secret.
- an army marches on its stomach — People cannot work well without food.
- come down hard on someone — To punish or criticize someone severely.
- when it rains, it pours — Bad things tend to happen together.
- a bundle of nerves — A very anxious or nervous person.