fight tooth and nail
Meaning: To fight fiercely; to fight with everything you have.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The practice of placing a feather in one's cap is centuries old and appears to have been practiced in many different cultures. The feather was awarded and worn as a sign of a significant achievement by the wearer. In some cultures, such as 16thcentury Hungary, it was a crime to wear a feather when one had not earned the right. The expression suggests that the fighter uses both teeth and fingernails or claws.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- fine-tooth comb — An imaginary device one uses to look for something very carefully.
- get a leg up — To make a good start on some activity or project.
- get it in the neck — To receive something unpleasant, such as criticism or punishment.
- get something off one's chest — To disclose or talk about something that is bothering or worrying one.
- get something on the nose — To do or understand something perfectly.
- get something through one's head — To understand something that is difficult, especially because it is a shock, unwanted, or…
More English idioms
- get someone the cold shoulder — To ignore someone intentionally.
- get someone a hand — To help someone.
- give one's right arm to do something — To want something very much.
- give someone the shirt off one's back — To give (figuratively) someone all one's possessions; to be very generous.
- gray matter — Brain tissue and, by extension, intelligence.
- green around the gills — Sick to one's stomach; nauseated.
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