give (one's) eye teeth for (something)

give (one's) eye teeth for (something)

To give or relinquish anything (or something very valuable) in order to receive some specific thing in return. Oh, I would give my eye teeth for curly hair like yours.See also: eye, give, teeth

give one's eyeteeth

(for someone or something) Go to give one's right arm (for someone or something).See also: eyetooth, give

give one's eyeteeth

Also, give one's right arm. Go to any lengths to obtain, as in She'd give her eyeteeth for a mink coat, or He'd give his right arm for a new car. These hyperbolic expressions both allude to something precious, the eyeteeth (or canines) being useful for both biting and chewing and the right arm a virtual necessity for the 90 percent of the population who are right-handed. Both date from the first half of the 1900s, when the first replaced give one's eyes, from the mid-1800s. See also: eyetooth, give

would give your eye teeth

BRITISH, INFORMALIf you would give your eye teeth for something or to do something, you would love to have or do that thing. He's the most exciting man I've ever worked with, and I'd give my eye teeth to do something with him again. I'd give my eye teeth for an opportunity to join that company. Note: A person's eye teeth are their canine teeth, the pointed teeth near the front of their mouth. See also: eye, give, teeth

give your eye teeth for

go to any lengths in order to obtain something. The eye teeth are the two canine teeth in the upper jaw. 1930 W. Somerset Maugham Cakes & Ale He'd give his eye-teeth to have written a book half as good. See also: eye, give, teeth

give your eye ˈteeth for something/to do something

(informal) (usually used with would) give anything for something; want something very much: I’d give my eye teeth to own a car like that. ♢ He’d give his eye teeth for a job in television.See also: eye, give, something, teeth