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Region: General | Usage example: The security team was armed to the teeth for the visit.

Armed to the teeth

Meaning

Extremely well prepared or heavily equipped.

Usage

Describes people or groups ready for fierce competition.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Military imagery of soldiers carrying weapons everywhere.

Used since the 17th century in war accounts.

Related Idioms

As scarce as hens teeth

Extremely rare or hard to find.

By the skin of your teeth

Barely or narrowly escaping failure.

Sink your teeth into

Engage deeply with a task or subject.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.