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Kick in the Teeth

What Does "Kick in the Teeth" Mean?

homeidiomsKick in the Teeth
"Kick in the teeth" is an English idiom. It means "a deeply felt disappointment or setback."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "kick in the teeth" used in a sentence:
  • Losing that job was a real kick in the teeth for him.
  • After all my hard work, their criticism felt like a kick in the teeth.
  • Getting rejected from my top university choice was a kick in the teeth.
meaning for kick in the teeth

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Kick in the Teeth" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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