pull teeth
Meaning: To accomplish something with great difficulty, requiring much effort and persistence.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The phrase draws on the dental image of extraction—pulling teeth is painful, slow, and resisted by the patient, mirroring any task that is stubborn and reluctant to yield.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- feet first — Dead, or in the manner of a corpse.
- ne pas fermer l’œil de la nuit — To be unable to sleep; to stay awake all night.
- prendre à la gorge — To seize someone or something forcefully; to make breathing or speech difficult; to trigg…
- regarder la pointe de ses souliers — To lower one's eyes in embarrassment or shame.
- mettre ses deux mains au feu — To stake one's reputation or safety by guaranteeing something is true.
- tendre les bras — To offer help and support to someone, or to welcome them warmly.
More English idioms
- cut a rug — To dance with energy and style, particularly in early twentieth-century jazz or swing sty…
- stumbling block — An obstacle or barrier that impedes progress or causes difficulty.
- hang upon — To be deeply absorbed in or emotionally dependent on someone or something.
- cut above — Superior in quality or ability; better than most.
- of the same leaven — Of the same nature, character, or type; alike.
- The last straw that broke the camel's back — The final small burden that causes a total collapse.
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