montrer les dents

Meaning: Displaying aggression, defiance, or readiness to fight.

Language: French

Literally: to show the teeth

Category: Animals

Origin: Animal behavior of baring teeth as a threat display.

More idioms — Animals

• être un ours — Being unfriendly, grumpy, and difficult to approach socially.
• avoir une mémoire d'éléphant — Having exceptional ability to remember details over time.
• avoir une langue de vipère — Speaking maliciously, spreading rumors, or being verbally cruel.
• faire ses griffes — Practicing or preparing oneself for a challenging task or confrontation.
• jemandem einen Bären aufbinden — To tell someone a deliberate lie or deceptive story for amusement or manipulation.
• mit jemandem Katz und Maus spielen — To tease or toy with someone's emotions, alternating between kind and cruel treatment for…

More French idioms

• avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre — Taking more food than one can actually eat; wanting too much.
• faire un esclandre — Creating a public disturbance or embarrassing scene.
• faire la fortune de quelqu'un — Bringing great wealth or success to another person.
• être sur la brèche — Being actively engaged in battle or difficult work.
• manger du bout des lèvres — Eating without appetite or showing disinterest in the meal.
• avoir une peur bleue — Being terrified or extremely frightened of something.

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