The expression "to sharpen one's teeth"

This phrase is a phraseological unit. This can be proved using the signs of any popular expression as arguments.

So, the following features will help to distinguish a phraseological unit from a phrase:

1. Phraseologism is a complete semantic unit of the language. This means that it is used ready-made, and not invented by a person in the course of a letter or conversation. People use the expression "Sharpen a tooth", and the interlocutors immediately understand what is at stake.
2. Phraseologisms are designed to encourage the interlocutor to some action or to evoke certain emotions in him.
3. Phraseologisms consist of two or more words, their structure is constant.

Based on the presented list of signs, it is safe to say that the presented phrase is a phraseological unit.

"The tooth sharpens": the meaning of the expression

Many popular expressions several interpretations. And the idiom "to sharpen your teeth" is no exception.

The first and main meaning of the phrase is used to talk about a person who is angry with another, accumulates rage and harbors evil intent against someone. It can also be said that "to sharpen one's teeth" means to hate someone and seek to harm that person.

The second interpretation is almost completely opposite to the first. So, another meaning of the phrase "sharpening a tooth": to covet, to have a great desire to get something.

Origin of expression

Many phraseological units have come to us from ancient times. They were created folk wisdom. For this reason phraseological units are taken from folk tales, songs, from proverbs and sayings. For centuries, expressions were passed from mouth to mouth, and so they became common. Now it is impossible to name with certainty the reason for the origin of this or that phraseological unit, but linguists and scientists put forward versions and theories about the appearance of phrases in the Russian language.

In turn, the phraseologism "to sharpen a tooth" has not only several meanings, but also several theories of origin.

First theory. During the hunt, traps were set to catch bears. The trap must be working so that the non-hunter does not endanger himself. To prevent the bear from escaping, the teeth of the trap were sharpened very sharply. This is where the idiom "to sharpen teeth" came from, which meant that an attack was being prepared against someone, putting his life in danger.

Another theory is connected with the Viking tribe, who lived in ancient times. When excavating their mass graves, one interesting, but at the same time terrifying feature was discovered. On the teeth of each buried Viking there were notches, notches, damage. Archaeologists have suggested that this is how the enemies of the Vikings "marked" their prey, indicating who committed a certain act. Therefore, it is likely that this phraseological unit originated from a terrible ritual of ancient times.

Thus, it is impossible to say exactly how and when the expression appeared, but both theories prove that the meaning of the phrase "to sharpen a tooth on a person" is rather negative.

Examples of use in speech

Phraseologism "to sharpen a tooth" is often used in speech. Moreover, this expression cannot be unconditionally attributed to either colloquial or book style. This means that given it can be used both in a work of art and in an ordinary everyday communication.

Ekaterina Vilmont in her book "The Secret of the Green Monkey" wrote:

"But instead of going to the cinema, discos and walks, she finds herself in a whirlpool of strange and frightening events. Someone is clearly sharpening a tooth on her and Matilda."

Here you can see how phraseologism is used in the meaning of "get angry at someone, seek to harm."

The following example of N. Leikin illustrates the use of the same phraseological unit, but in a different meaning:

"He's a good guy. Our entire village has a grudge against him."

Phraseologism here means trying to get someone or something.

Phraseologism "Tooth to have" meaning

A. M. Gorky can find the following phrase in “The Mischievous Man”: “... how I embarrassed you, then, of course, you must have a grudge against me ...”, and Pushkin A. S. In a dialogue with Anna Petrova there are the words “ scolded (I) tooth for tooth. Where do you get such a wonderful combination of words? Their root is quite old already: there was a time when they were used in the form of judgment and retribution.
Almost every nation had an unwritten law in the early stages of its civilization. He concluded that the criminal must be punished with the same evil that was committed by him. If you killed, you will be killed; if you crippled, then you will be crippled in the same way. This law was written in the Bible, but only more briefly and expressively: “A fracture for a fracture, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth…”.
This statute of the ancient peoples was applied and used in the Russian language. We often hear the expression "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" when we want to emphasize retribution with the same measure of punishment. We - just like A. S. Pushkin in our words - use this expression tit for tat, at the moment when you need to describe a verbal or physical strife that takes place in mutual attacks. In addition, we began to use another phraseological unit " tooth to have "- means to harbor annoyance or anger against someone, to feel the presence of a thirst for revenge or settling accounts.
The same phrases can be found among the Germans, French and British.

Russian is the richest language in the world. That is why even the everyday speech of a Russian person is filled with apt comparisons and phraseological units. This allows a person to more figuratively convey emotions, feelings and states of mind. Therefore, popular expressions are widespread in large numbers in our country.

What is a phraseological unit?

These are stable phrases that do not have an author. They can be used by anyone and are a sign of literacy and intellectual enlightenment of the interlocutor. If the speaker uses popular expressions to the place, such as, for example, “Sit in a puddle”, “Sharpen a tooth”, then we can say with confidence that such a person is well-read.

Not any phrase or expression subsequently becomes a phraseological unit. To do this, it must have several features, the main of which are figurativeness and brevity. A group of words should accurately describe the sign of an object or action in order to firmly enter the lexicon of people.

Phraseologisms are turns of speech. This means that with their help a person tries to convey his thought more clearly and more correctly, as well as to achieve mutual understanding during a conversation with other people. Often we do not even notice that we use catchphrases in Everyday life. This is proved by the fact that phraseological units are tightly integrated into our speech and are an independent part of the language.

The expression "to sharpen one's teeth"

This phrase is a phraseological unit. This can be proved using the signs of any popular expression as arguments.

So, the following features will help to distinguish a phraseological unit from a phrase:

1. Phraseologism is a complete semantic unit of the language. This means that it is used ready-made, and not invented by a person in the course of a letter or conversation. People use the expression "Sharpen a tooth", and the interlocutors immediately understand what is at stake.
2. Phraseologisms are designed to encourage the interlocutor to some action or to evoke certain emotions in him.
3. Phraseologisms consist of two or more words, their structure is constant.

Based on the presented list of signs, it is safe to say that the presented phrase is a phraseological unit.

"The tooth sharpens": the meaning of the expression

Many popular expressions have several interpretations. And the idiom "to sharpen your teeth" is no exception.

The first and main meaning of the phrase is used to talk about a person who is angry with another, accumulates rage and harbors evil intent against someone. It can also be said that "to sharpen one's teeth" means to hate someone and seek to harm that person.

The second interpretation is almost completely opposite to the first. So, another meaning of the phrase "sharpening a tooth": to covet, to have a great desire to get something.

Origin of expression

Many phraseological units have come to us from ancient times. They were created by folk wisdom. For this reason, phraseological units are taken from folk tales, songs, from proverbs and sayings. For centuries, expressions were passed from mouth to mouth, and so they became common. Now it is impossible to name with certainty the reason for the origin of this or that phraseological unit, but linguists and scientists put forward versions and theories about the appearance of phrases in the Russian language.

In turn, the phraseologism "to sharpen a tooth" has not only several meanings, but also several theories of origin.

First theory. During the hunt, traps were set to catch bears. The trap must be working so that the non-hunter does not endanger himself. To prevent the bear from escaping, the teeth of the trap were sharpened very sharply. This is where the idiom "to sharpen teeth" came from, which meant that an attack was being prepared against someone, putting his life in danger.

Another theory is connected with the Viking tribe, who lived in ancient times. When excavating their mass graves, one interesting, but at the same time terrifying feature was discovered. On the teeth of each buried Viking there were notches, notches, damage. Archaeologists have suggested that this is how the enemies of the Vikings "marked" their prey, indicating who committed a certain act. Therefore, it is likely that this phraseological unit originated from a terrible ritual of ancient times.

Thus, it is impossible to say exactly how and when the expression appeared, but both theories prove that the meaning of the phrase "to sharpen a tooth on a person" is rather negative.

Examples of use in speech

Phraseologism "to sharpen a tooth" is often used in speech. Moreover, this expression cannot be unconditionally attributed to either colloquial or book style. This means that given it can be used both in a work of art and in ordinary everyday communication.

Ekaterina Vilmont in her book "The Secret of the Green Monkey" wrote:

"But instead of going to the cinema, discos and walks, she finds herself in a whirlpool of strange and frightening events. Someone is clearly sharpening a tooth on her and Matilda."

Here you can see how phraseologism is used in the meaning of "get angry at someone, seek to harm."

The following example of N. Leikin illustrates the use of the same phraseological unit, but in a different meaning:

"He's a good guy. Our entire village has a grudge against him."

Phraseologism here means trying to get someone or something.

Many writers in works of art often have this phrase or a similar one associated with the oral cavity.

A. M. Gorky can be found in “The Mischievous Man”: “... how I embarrassed you, then, of course, you must have a grudge against me ...”, and Pushkin A. S. In a dialogue with Anna Petrova there are the words “scold ( i) tit for tit.

Where did the expression come from?

Since ancient times, every nation had the concept of punishment for misconduct - do the same as they did to you, repay with the same coin. Even in the Bible, the algorithm "an eye for an eye" is written, although Christ himself opposed revenge and called for evil to be repaid with good.

Therefore, it is possible that the expression "to have a tooth" is, as it were, a continuation of the expression "a tooth for a tooth." It implies a hostile attitude against someone, a hidden malice. Outwardly, a person may not show his feelings, but deep down, have a grudge and dream of revenge.

But recently I read an article that reveals the possible origin of the expression "to sharpen a tooth." And it is considered a synonym for the previous one.

So, it says that the Vikings had a practice of celebrating their military victories on their teeth - how many enemies were killed, so many notches on their teeth. This is evidenced by the many bodies in ancient burials with such notches.

Presumably, this is where phraseologism originates.

So maybe the Bible has nothing to do with it. Moreover, the saying exists among other peoples.

I suggest you take a look at the following pages:

1. The word "Lizoblyud" (Meal) - what is its meaning and origins?