set your teeth

Status
Not open for further replies.

unpakwon

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
What is the following in red saying?

One thing is certain: this book is practical. You can set your teeth in it.

Thank you.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
What is the following in red saying?

One thing is certain: this book is practical. You can set your teeth in it.

Thank you.

It doesn't make any sense to me.
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Maybe you leave the book on your nightstand and set your teeth in it overnight while you sleep.
 

TheParser

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
***** NOT A TEACHER *****



Hello, Unpakwon:



I have found an explanation on the Web. If you have already read this article, I apologize for wasting your time.

Please google:

The meaning of "Set your teeth in it" Englishforums




James
 
Last edited:

BobK

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 29, 2006
Location
Spencers Wood, near Reading, UK
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
:up: Repeat, botched. Don't use the expression. The user had confused it with the expression 'cut your teeth' (which is what a baby does when its teeth are beginning to appear). If you can 'cut your teeth' on a book, it is a good basic primer.

Some book reviews 'set my teeth' on edge ;-)

b
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
And if you can "sink your teeth" into the book, it is something you can really get involved with enthusiastically.
 

TheParser

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Unpakwon:

As that website explained, the writer probably meant "sink your teeth into it."

That is, the book was really "meaty." It had lots of meat. That is, lots of good practical advice that you could use.

So you could sink your teeth into it, just as you sink your teeth into a delicious beef steak.



James
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top