| 释义 |
ˈeye-tooth
[f. eye n.1 + tooth; cf. Ger. augenzahn, Du. oogtand.]
a. A tooth immediately under or next to the eye, orig. one of the upper canine teeth (see canine tooth), but now extended to the lower also.
1580Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Den Macheliére, the eye tooth. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 379 The eye teeth of a Lion. 1629Chapman Juvenal. 255 Live still gnashing of thy great eye-teeth. 1691Ray Creation ii. (1692) 41 The next [teeth] one on each side.. called Canini, in English Eye Teeth. 1700T. Brown tr. Fresny's Amusem. Ser. & Com. 87 The Eye-teeth of Flying Toads. 1741Monro Anat. Nerves (ed. 3) 159 The two superior..are called Eye-teeth, from the Communication of Nerves which is betwixt them and the Eyes. 1831R. Knox Cloquet's Anat. 77 The Upper Canine Teeth are the longest in the jaws, and for this reason, are vulgarly denominated Eye-teeth. 1863Huxley Man's Place Nat. ii. 81 Milk-teeth..consist of four incisors..two canines, or eye-teeth; and four molars..in each jaw.
fig.1740Pardon Dyche's Dict. (ed. 3), Eye-teeth..Quickness or sharpness of understanding and parts.
b. Phrases. Chiefly fig. to cut one's eye-teeth: to get out of babyhood. to draw any one's eye-teeth: to take the conceit out of him. † to have one's eye-teeth: to be wide-awake. (one) would give one's eye-teeth: (one) is very eager, or ready to make the greatest sacrifices (to do something). Cf. eye n.1 2 j.
1730Morier in Atterbury Misc. Wks. V. 147 There is no dealing with him without having one's eye teeth. 1837Haliburton Clockm. Ser. i. xvi. 147 Them are fellers cut their eye-teeth afore they ever sot foot in this country. 1867Dixon New Amer. I. i. 1 Guess these Yanks must look alive..unless they should happen to enjoy having their eye-teeth drawn. 1870Emerson Soc. & Solit., Civiliz. Wks. (Bohn) III. 7 Like progress that is made by a boy ‘when he cuts his eye-teeth’. 1930W. S. Maugham Cakes & Ale i. 13 He'd give his eye-teeth to have written a book half as good. 1965F. Sargeson Memoirs of Peon iv. 55, I would give away my eye-teeth to take that girl into the park. |