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.