Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

show-one's-teeth

idiom

/ʃoʊ wʌnz tiːθ/

Definition

To demonstrate aggression or a readiness to confront someone, often used in a figurative sense.

Examples

When negotiations faltered, she decided to show her teeth to assert her position.
The cat hissed and showed its teeth when it felt threatened.
In the meeting, he showed his teeth, making it clear that he wouldn’t back down.

Meaning

The expression ‘show one’s teeth’ implies revealing a willingness to be fierce or competitive, not necessarily in a physical way, but in assertion or attitude.