鈥楢voir une dent contre鈥� - expressing a grudge or resentment in French
We explore the 14th century origins of the bitter phrase 'to have a tooth against' someone
This French phrase is perfect for expressing longstanding anger or resentment against someone
Ollyy
Avoir une dent contre quelqu'un translates as feeling angry or resentful towards someone.
Literally, avoir une dent contre means 鈥榯o have a tooth against鈥�.
This expression dating from the 14th century evolved from avoir les dents sur quelqu鈥檜n 鈥� to have your teeth on someone.
Read more: How do you express irritation in French but in a polite way?
As there were no dentists in the modern sense in the 14th century, just 鈥榯ooth pullers鈥�, teeth at the time were commonly associated with pain.
But in this expression, they are a symbol of aggression.
After all, if you have your teeth on someone it is quite possible that you鈥檝e just bitten them.
Some sources also say the expression may also be linked to the idea of animals 鈥榮howing their teeth鈥� when they are in an aggressive mood.
By the 17th century, the expression had evolved to just une dent, one tooth, though it is unclear why.
One variant found in Moli猫re, but not used today, was avoir une dent de lait (a young child鈥檚 鈥榖aby鈥� tooth) contre quelqu鈥檜n to refer to a longstanding grudge.
