IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishcut one's teeth
Meaning: To gain one's first experience of something.
Example: “The famous chef cut her teeth in a roadside diner.”
Origin: A baby's first teeth are said to "cut" through the gums, a usage from the late 1600s. Teething is one of life's earliest trials, so a first stage of learning came to be described the same way.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Faire ses griffes Literally: To sharpen one's claws
More English idioms
- have stars in one's eyes To be dazzled or dreamily idealistic, especially about love or fame.
- hit a snag To run into an unexpected problem.
- something fishy is going on Something suspicious is happening.
- take French leave To leave without saying goodbye or asking permission.
- dress to the nines To dress very smartly or elaborately.
- have friends in high places To know influential people who can help one.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- Khalyava Something good got for free and without effort — and, strictly, something you were never…
- Beloruchka Someone who dodges dirty or hard work — a person whose hands stay conspicuously clean.
- Zapoi A bender running for days, in which a person drops out of ordinary life entirely.
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