set one's teeth on edge



set one's teeth on edge

Irritate, annoy, make one cringe, as in That raucous laugh sets my teeth on edge. This expression alludes to the shuddering feeling evoked by a grating noise or similar irritation. It appears in several books of the Bible and was also used by Shakespeare. [c. 1600]
See also: edge, on, set, teeth

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
LuceLOO-che (Italian), LOOS (French)Italian, French
Alexandrinaal-əg-zan-DREE-nə (English)Portuguese, English (Rare)
Xanthos-Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
RikeREE-kəGerman
Sveva-Italian
Boutros-Arabic, Coptic