teethteeth /tiːθ/ 
Longman Language Activatorto accept a situation that you do not like
to accept a situation that you do not like but you cannot change: · Divorce is hard on children, but they have to accept it.learn/come to accept (=eventually accept): · In the US, people have come to accept that they will probably have several different jobs over the course of their career.accept the fact (that): · It was difficult for Paul to accept the fact that he was going bald.accept that: · Steptoe finally accepted that his son didn't want to continue working in the family business.
to accept an annoying situation or someone's annoying behaviour, without trying to stop it or change it: · I don't know how you put up with this noise day after day.· The kind of treatment that you have to put up with as a new army recruit is pretty horrible.
to accept an unpleasant situation, without trying to change it: · For years the workers have had to tolerate low wages and terrible working conditions.· I told him I wasn't going to tolerate his drinking any longer.
to realize that you must accept an unpleasant situation, because you cannot prevent it or avoid it: · The children have had to resign themselves to being without their father.resign yourself to the fact (that): · I'm resigned to the fact that I'm not going to get the job.
to accept a situation that you do not like, and try to enjoy it or make it less bad: · It's not the university that I really wanted to go to, but I suppose I'll just have to make the best of it.· Six months after the earthquake, city residents continue to make the best of a bad situation.
to accept an unpleasant or difficult situation and say that you will deal with it: · It's not easy, but as a manager, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and fire people.
spoken said when you have to accept something you do not like because you do not have the money or power to choose anything else: · It would be nice to have a suit with a better fit, but as they say, beggars can't be choosers.
spoken said when telling someone that a difficult situation must be accepted, especially because there is no way to prevent it or there is nothing anyone can do about it: · "Sorry you didn't get the job, Mike." "Yeah, thanks. I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles."
to accept a situation or job you do not like and try to deal with it in a determined way: · Rescue workers here have little choice but to grit their teeth and get on with the grim task of recovering the bodies.· I was desperately unhappy in that job, but had to grit my teeth and stay smiling for the sake of my children.
to bite someone · Don't worry about the dog - he won't bite.· She fought off her attacker, scratching and biting him.bite somebody on the face/hand/leg etc · On just the second day of the trip, I was bitten on the leg by a snake.
to bite a part of someone's body very hard so that your teeth go into their flesh: · The dog leapt at him, sinking its teeth into his arm.· The shark sank its teeth into the soft flesh of his thigh.
to try to bite someone by making quick biting movements: · Sean came running around the corner of the house with a small dog snapping at his heels.· Every time your puppy snaps at someone, give him a smack on the butt with a rolled up newspaper.
to bite someone or something with small sharp bites, or to try to do this: · When I took the hamster out of his cage, he nipped me.nip at: · A school of fish swam around her feet, some nipping at her ankles.
especially British to bite someone, not very hard: · Don't try to pet the parrot - he could give you a really nasty bite.
person feeling cold: · Dad, I'm cold. Can I put the heater on?· Your hands are really cold!feel cold: · He woke up in the middle of the night feeling cold.look cold: · Come and sit by the fire. You look cold.
also frozen British spoken feeling very cold and uncomfortable: · How much longer do we have to wait out her? I'm freezing.· You look absolutely frozen.
to shake a little because you are cold: · I was shivering in my thin sleeping bag.shiver with cold: · They were forced to wait outside for hours, shivering with cold.
to be so cold that your skin turns slightly blue: · He was huddled into his coat, his face blue with cold.· Look at her. The poor girl's quite blue with cold.
British /have goosebumps American to have small raised areas on your skin because you are cold: · She was shivering, her arms and legs covered in goosepimples.· Why don't you put something else on? You've got goosebumps.
if your teeth are chattering you are so cold that your teeth keep knocking together and you cannot stop them: · Her teeth were chattering with cold.
when something happens, although it almost did not happen · "Can I speak to Tony please?" "Sorry, you've just missed him."· If you hurry you'll just catch the 9.30 bus.· I just made it to class on time.· At the moment we're just making enough money to cover our costs.just in time (=with very little time to spare) · We got to the station just in time.
if you barely do something, you succeed, although you almost fail: · The fog was so bad that we could barely see the road in front of us.· The staff here are barely coping with all the work.
also nearly didn't British · I saw him a week ago and I almost didn't recognize him, he'd lost so much weight.· My alarm clock is broken and I nearly didn't wake up in time this morning.
British /just barely American use this when you succeed in doing something, but you want to emphasize how close you were to failing: · It was a close game. Beverly beat me, but only just.· I could just barely hear him.· The paperwork was only just completed in time for the conference.· The train was late, and I just barely made it to the meeting on time.
: narrowly win/defeat/fail etc if you narrowly win, lose etc, you win or lose by a very small number of points, votes etc: · The bill was narrowly defeated in the Senate.· She narrowly failed to beat the world record in the 100 metres sprint.
British use this to say that something good happened, but it almost did not: · The Labour party won the election, but it was a very near thing.· He nearly died - it was a very close thing.
if you do something by the skin of your teeth , you succeed in doing it, but only by a very small amount of time, space etc: · The business is surviving, but only by the skin of its teeth.· The car broke down on the way to the airport and they just caught the plane by the skin of their teeth.
to wash your hands/face/body etc to clean yourself with soap and water: · Harry went upstairs to wash.wash your hands/face/hair etc: · She was washing her hair when the phone rang.· Have you boys washed your hands yet?
British /wash up American to wash your hands and face: · You'll feel better once you've had a wash and something to eat.· You kids go wash up now - dinner's nearly ready.
especially spoken to wash your face and hands so that you feel more comfortable, for example when you have been working hard or travelling: · The bathroom's on the right if you'd like to freshen up.· She hoped there would be time to freshen up before the interview.
to wash yourself after you have got dirty doing something: · I'll make the dinner - just give me chance to get cleaned up first.· He's upstairs in the bathroom getting cleaned up.
to get washed and make yourself look tidy or change your clothes: · She went into the washroom at the airport to get spruced up before meeting the others.
also clean your teeth British to clean your teeth with a small brush: · Have you brushed your teeth this morning?· I cleaned my teeth, flattened down my hair, and rushed out of the door.
to clean your hands or face by gently rubbing them with a cloth or with your hand: · Wipe your face. There's chocolate all around your mouth.· Wiping his oily hands on a piece of cloth, he reached into his pocket and handed me the bill.
to clean your skin, especially using a special liquid cream: · This lotion cleanses your skin deep down, while preserving its natural pH balance.
to wash your hair with shampoo (=a special liquid soap for washing hair): · It's a new conditioner. Simply shampoo your hair, towel dry, and spray it in.
WORD SETSaerobic, adjectiveafterbirth, nounalgae, nounalimentary canal, nounamber, nounameba, nounamino acid, nounamoeba, nounanaconda, nounanaerobic, adjectiveandrogynous, adjectiveantibody, nounantigen, nounantitoxin, nounappendage, nounarm, nounarmour, nounasexual, adjectiveassimilation, nounatrophy, verbaviary, nounbacteria, nounbacteriology, nounbarnacle, nounbile, nounbinocular vision, nounbio-, prefixbiochemistry, nounbiodegradable, adjectivebiodiversity, nounbiohazard, nounbiological, adjectivebiological clock, nounbiology, nounbiomass, nounbiome, nounbiosphere, nounblind, nounbrain, nounbreathe, verbbreed, verbbreed, nounbreeding, nounbristle, nounbulb, nouncapsule, nouncarbohydrate, nouncarbon dioxide, nouncarnivore, nouncell, nouncellular, adjectivecellulose, nouncentral nervous system, nouncervical, adjectivecholesterol, nounchromosome, nouncirculation, nouncirculatory, adjectiveclass, nounclone, nouncold-blooded, adjectiveconceive, verbconch, nounconnective tissue, nouncopulate, verbcoral reef, nouncornea, nouncoronary, adjectivecorpuscle, nouncortex, nouncortisone, nouncowrie, nouncrab, nouncrawfish, nouncrayfish, nouncreature, nouncross, verbcrossbreed, nounculture, nouncytoplasm, noundecay, verbdecay, noundecompose, verbdefecate, verbdenizen, noundextrose, noundiaphragm, noundigest, verbdigestion, noundigestive, adjectiveDNA, noundorsal, adjectivedry rot, nounduct, noundwarf, noundwarf, adjectiveecological, adjectiveecology, nounecosystem, nounegg, nounejaculate, verbembryo, nounembryonic, adjectiveenzyme, nounepidermis, nounevolution, nounevolutionary, adjectiveexcrement, nounexcrescence, nounexcrete, verbexcretion, nounexhale, verbexoskeleton, nounextinction, nounfaeces, nounfamily, nounfang, nounfat, nounfatty acid, nounfauna, nounfeces, nounfeed, verbfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferment, verbferment, nounfertile, adjectivefertility, nounfertilize, verbfission, nounflank, nounflatulence, nounflesh, nounfleshy, adjectiveflightless, adjectiveflora, nounfoetal, adjectivefoetus, nounfoliage, nounfossil, nounfreak, nounfreshwater, adjectivefructose, noungamete, nounganglion, noungene, noungene pool, noungenera, genetic, adjectivegenetic code, noungenetic engineering, noungenetic fingerprinting, noungenetics, noungenome, noungenus, noungestation, noungland, nounglandular, adjectiveglucose, noungluten, noungonad, noungrass snake, noungrow, verbgrowth, nounhabitat, nounhaemoglobin, nounhearing, nounheart, nounhemisphere, nounherbivore, nounhereditary, adjectiveheredity, nounhermaphrodite, nounhibernate, verbhistamine, nounhoming, adjectivehormone, nounhost, nounimpregnate, verbimpulse, nounincubate, verbindigenous, adjectiveinfected, adjectiveinfertile, adjectiveinfest, verbingest, verbinhale, verbinseminate, verbinsensate, adjectiveinsulin, nounintegument, nounintercourse, nouninterferon, nounintestine, nouninvertebrate, nouninvoluntary, adjectiveiris, nounjaw, nounjelly, nounkidney, nounkrill, nounlactate, verblactation, nounlactic acid, nounleech, nounleg, nounlesser, adjectivelichen, nounlife, nounlife cycle, nounlife form, nounligament, nounlimb, nounlimpet, nounlipid, nounliver, nounliving fossil, nounlocomotion, nounlymph, nounlymph node, nounmale, adjectivemale, nounmammal, nounmandible, nounmate, nounmate, verbmembrane, nounmetabolism, nounmetabolize, verbmetamorphosis, nounmicrobe, nounmicrobiology, nounmicroorganism, nounmicroscopic, adjectivemigrate, verbmigratory, adjectivemiscarriage, nounmolar, nounmorphology, nounmotor, adjectivemould, nounmouth, nounmucous membrane, nounmucus, nounmulticellular, adjectivemuscle, nounmuscular, adjectivemutant, nounmutate, verbmutation, nounnatural history, nounnatural selection, nounnature, nounneck, nounnectar, nounnerve, nounnervous, adjectivenervous system, nounneural, adjectiveneuro-, prefixneurology, nounnode, nounnose, nounnostril, nounnucleic acid, nounnucleus, nounnutrient, nounnutriment, nounoesophagus, nounoestrogen, nounolfactory, adjectiveoptic, adjectiveorgan, nounorganic, adjectiveorganic chemistry, nounorganism, nounorifice, nounossify, verbosteo-, prefixoutgrowth, nounova, ovary, nounoverwinter, verboviduct, nounoviparous, adjectiveovulate, verbovum, nounparasite, nounpathogen, nounpedigree, nounpelvic, adjectivepelvis, nounpenile, adjectivepenis, nounpepsin, nounperiod, nounperspiration, nounperspire, verbphotosynthesis, nounphylum, nounpigment, nounpigmentation, nounplankton, nounplasma, nounpollinate, verbpostnatal, adjectivepregnancy, nounpregnant, adjectivepremature, adjectiveprenatal, adjectiveproduct, nounproliferation, nounpropagate, verbprotein, nounprotoplasm, nounprotozoan, nounpuberty, nounpulmonary, adjectivepulp, nounpulsation, nounputrefy, verbputrid, adjectivered blood cell, nounregurgitate, verbrenal, adjectivereproduce, verbreproduction, nounreproductive, adjectiverespiration, nounrespiratory, adjectiverespire, verbretina, nounroot, nounrot, verbrot, nounruff, nounsac, nounsaliva, nounsalivary gland, nounsalivate, verbsaltwater, adjectivescale, nounscallop, nounscaly, adjectivesebaceous, adjectivesecrete, verbsecretion, nounsemen, nounsense organ, nounsensory, adjectiveserum, nounsex, nounsex, verbsexless, adjectivesexual intercourse, nounsheath, nounshell, nounsibling, nounskeletal, adjectiveskeleton, nounskin, nounskull, nounspasm, nounspasmodic, adjectivespecies, nounspecimen, nounsperm, nounspiderweb, nounspinal cord, nounspine, nounspineless, adjectivestarch, nounstem cell, nounstimulate, verbstimulus, nounstrain, nounsubject, nounsubspecies, nounsucker, nounsucrose, nounsweat, verbsweat, nounsweat gland, nounsymbiosis, nounsystemic, adjectivetail, nountaxonomy, nounteeth, testosterone, nountest-tube baby, nountissue, nountrachea, nountube, noununicellular, adjectiveurethra, nounuric, adjectiveurinate, verburine, nounvariety, nounvector, nounvein, nounvenom, nounvenomous, adjectiveventricle, nounvertebra, nounvertebrate, nounvivisection, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewean, verbwildlife, nounwindpipe, nounyolk, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Many of the gangs are armed to the teeth (=carrying a lot of weapons). The dog bared its teeth. ‘Damn you,’ he said through set teeth. The dog sank its teeth into my arm.
Many of the gangs are armed to the teeth (=carrying a lot of weapons). The dog bared its teeth. (=say something that is completely untrue)
‘Damn you,’ he said through set teeth. The dog sank its teeth into my arm.PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► get the bit between your teeth► somebody would give their eye teeth for something
the plural of tooth- Always make sure you clean your teeth properly, using a small-headed brush and only a pea-sized blob of toothpaste.
- And evidence shows that women feel more inhibited by things like not having cleaned their teeth or feeling grubby.
- Back in the en suite bathroom, he briskly cleans his teeth and brushes his hair.
- For the first time in her adult life, Polly went to bed without bathing or cleaning her teeth.
- How often do you clean your teeth, Miss Harland?
- Only drink bottled water - check the seal hasn't been broken - and use it to clean your teeth.
- She looked like a virgin who cleaned her teeth after every meal and delighted to take great bites from rosy apples.
- He clenched his fists and remained where he was.
- He clenched his fists even tighter.
- He clenched his fists in frustration and annoyance.
- He clenched his teeth together but the first syllable forced itself around the corner of his mouth.
- He clenched his teeth, pulled back his shoulders and began to stride up the road.
- I clenched my teeth, wondering what to do now.
- Papa clenched his fists and lips in the dark wood.
- He cut his teeth at places like Claridges; the Carlton, Cannes.
- Sutton and Packford both cut their teeth on the old hot-metal newspaper production process.
- The entrepreneurial owner cut his teeth on a Schweizer 300 which he still owns.
- An unlikely assassin was left-winger Jason Wilcox, a youth team star while Dalglish was still gnashing his teeth at Anfield.
- But he has spent three or four years out in the darkness, gnashing his teeth.
- Gacbler and his colleagues would often be stymied by some problem, gnashing their teeth and getting nowhere.
- He kept baring and gnashing his teeth. 21.
- He laid her on the kang, wailing and gnashing his teeth.
- Their heads thrash about on the bloodied floor, gnashing their teeth and foaming at the mouth.
- Then he threw up his hands and wailed and gnashed his teeth, for the world had already touched his father.
- traffic problems that make us grind our teeth
- For a while a man ground his teeth horribly, only feet away.
- His jaw ached and he realised that he was grinding his teeth, so he released the muscles and tried to relax.
- I ground my teeth as I watched her crawl back into the machinery.
- It's my husband Deardrie - he keeps me awake at night, grinding his teeth!
- Mortally wounded, frothing at the mouth, grinding his teeth in pain, he chose the floor instead.
- She was grinding her teeth, until the taste of blood made her stop.
- Small Dave ground his teeth and spat into the daylight.
- Terry ground his teeth in consternation.
- I guess I'll have to just grit my teeth and wait for things to get better.
- I was desperately unhappy in that job, but had to grit my teeth and stay smiling for the sake of my children.
- Rescue workers here have little choice but to grit their teeth and get on with the grim task of recovering the bodies.
- And a seizure makes you grit your teeth.
- He gritted his teeth against the demand of his lungs to burst.
- He gritted his teeth like a cliff.
- I gritted my teeth and went to work.
- Rory gritted his teeth, pulled.
- She continued to grit her teeth in silence.
- She would grit her teeth and take everything he threw at her - for the time being.
- Graham sitting there waiting for me to kick him in the teeth.
- I couldn't kick him in the teeth after three years of good work and live with myself.
- If he had come begging and pleading, I would have laughed at him and kicked him in the teeth.
- But they would kick your head in if you spilt their pint just the same.
- It goes with some people wanting to kick my head in.
- Lou and Van burst into tears and Hamburglar kicks their heads in.
- So they are all there, kicking our teeth in.
- That is why the settlement of 4.4 percent. is rightly described as a kick in the teeth.
- Hands to muzzle, he delicately picked his teeth.
- He began to pick his teeth with a toothpick.
- He was picking his teeth with a match while some one on the phone talked his ear off.
- The man sawed very quickly with one hand and picked his teeth with the other hand.
- There was a long pause while he picked his teeth and looked down into the seat of his chair.
- They were there at lunchtime and still there in the evening, just reading, picking their teeth, and watching.
- Well, pop a mint, our friends, head for the hills, and pick your teeth with a mesquite twig.
- Woolley picked his teeth with a matchstick.
- Getting the kids to do their homework was like pulling teeth.
- Jeff just got into college by the skin of his teeth.
- The business is surviving, but only by the skin of its teeth.
- The car broke down on the way to the airport and they just caught the plane by the skin of their teeth.