Teeth and mouth at the center of metaphors and idioms! In philosophy, teeth often serve as a rhetorical device. Idioms and metaphors related to the topic of teeth are not uncommon in German usage - even if you are not actively aware of it. What these expressions mean and where they originate, we explain to you in today's blog post
Idioms and metaphors about teeth and mouth
Teeth and mouth as a rhetorical device in the German language! The most well-known expressions relating to teeth and mouth in German include:
- Move
- Crawling on the gums
- The Ravages of Time
- Gritting your teeth
- Testing someone
Tooth phrase 1: To put on a tooth
Meaning: Hurry up!
“Put a tooth in” is one of the most well-known “tooth expressions” and means: hurry up or that you should do something faster. You have probably heard the phrase “Put a tooth in!” before. This expression can be traced back to the Middle Ages. At that time, cooking was done in open spaces. The kettle was usually attached to a metal bar. This was characterized by its many spikes, which were also called teeth. If the pot was hung closer to the fire to speed up the cooking process, it was metaphorically said to have put a tooth in.
Tooth phrase 2: Crawling on the gums
Meaning: To be at the limit of one's endurance!
You may also be familiar with the expression "on your last legs". This is a saying that means you are at the limit of your endurance. It doesn't matter whether physical, psychological, economic or financial reasons have led to the exhaustion. You can only "walk" and, in a figurative sense, "function" with great effort. This expression is based on signs of wear and tear or a particularly bad condition. Bleeding gums are sometimes compared to sore soles of the feet.
Tooth phrase 3: Gnawing on the ravages of time
Meaning: Everything has its time!
If something is affected by the ravages of time, this means that something is decaying or very worn due to its lifespan or length. The origin of this saying can be attributed to several sources. On the one hand, this saying appears as early as 500 BC in the Greek poet Simonides as "sharp-toothed time" and on the other hand can be attributed to the famous play "Measure for Measure" by Shakespeare with the expression "Tooth of Time".
Tooth phrase 4: Clenching your teeth
Meaning: Having to endure something unpleasant!
You're probably just as familiar with this tooth-related expression as "put your teeth together". It is used whenever you have to endure something unpleasant. It is also used in connection with "controlling yourself" or "holding out". The most well-known expression in this context is "grit your teeth and get through it". Its use goes back to the 16th century and Martin Luther. He used the expression to tell his depressed friend in a letter that he should hold out. Goethe also used this expression in 1773. Gritting your teeth was supposed to symbolically reduce anger and rage. If you grit your teeth, you can't scream or complain because of the pain. Taking action or holding out is the only consequence for improving the situation.
Tooth phrase 5: To test someone or something
Meaning: Clarify honest intentions!
This dental idiom means that the true intentions are clarified in advance. This expression can be traced back to the 18th century. At that time, dentistry was still practiced by farriers. Teeth were felt and tapped in order to determine where the pain was coming from or to find out if a tooth was healthy. So if you want to find out what someone is feeling, what their intentions are or what they mean, then you idiomatically feel them out.
Expert tip : You can also check your teeth yourself, and not just in the way you say. Healthy dental care is not just about brushing your teeth every day. Knowing the health of your own mouth also contributes to it. For this reason, check your teeth regularly for deposits and plaque. After all, they are responsible for various dental diseases. To make deposits visible, we recommend our Mira-Dent 2-tone tooth-staining tablets . Using our emmi®-dent ultrasonic toothbrush and the appropriate emmi®-dent toothpaste you can gently but effectively remove the visible deposits.
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