like pulling teeth
Definition
Translation
Definition of like pulling teeth - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
- Getting him to answer emails is like pulling teeth.
- Convincing the kids to clean their room was like pulling teeth.
- Getting clear answers from the committee has been like pulling teeth.
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Expressions with like
completely different from something
This movie is nothing like the book.
have a desire for something or to do something
I feel like eating ice cream.
sticking very strongly or closely together
The team was like glue during the project.
with great respect and care
The staff served them like royalty throughout their stay.
with complete freedom or flexibility
Feel free to decorate the room as you like.
experience a sense of not belonging
She often feels like an outsider at family gatherings.
want to stop trying or quit
After many failures, she felt like giving up.
fit perfectly without any discomfort
The new shoes fit like a glove.
move smoothly and continuously like water
The dancers flow like water across the stage.
start enjoying someone or something after some time
I didn't like jazz at first but got to like it.
develop affection for something over time
She grew to like the new city after a month.
used to offer a choice or suggestion
We can go to the park if you like.
expressing surprise at how fast time has passed
It seems like only yesterday the kids were toddlers.
become suddenly covered in many bright shining lights
The whole stadium will light up like a Christmas tree during the concert.
sleeping very deeply and soundly
After the long hike, he slept like a log.
in a mechanical or unemotional manner
She followed the instructions like a robot without questioning.
said to stress a fact or outcome cannot be changed by feelings
Like it or not, we have to leave now.
live in a very dirty or messy way
They live like pigs and never clean their house.
closer to what is wanted or better than before
This is more like it, just what I wanted.
express that a past event feels very recent in memory
It seem like only yesterday we started high school together.
sleep very well and peacefully
After the long hike, I slept like a baby.
nothing compares to this experience
There's nothing like a day at the beach.
show great respect and care to someone
They always treat their guests like royalty.
given great admiration and respect
After saving the child, he was treated like a hero by everyone.
Expressions with pulling
deceiving someone in a playful way
Relax—they’re pulling your leg about the surprise party.
not hold back in criticism
The review was pulling no punches about the film's flaws.
extremely difficult or unpleasant
Convincing him to help was painful as pulling teeth.
use of secret influence to get something wanted
His promotion was due to string-pulling by his uncle.
the act of removing nails from surfaces
Nail pulling is essential in renovation work.
ability to attract or draw people
The celebrity's pulling power filled the stadium.
secretly controlling or influencing people or events
There was a lot of wire-pulling behind the scenes.
act of teasing or joking with someone
His leg-pulling was all in good fun at the party..
force that draws something toward a person object or source
The pulling force of the tractor moved the heavy trailer easily.
Expressions with teeth
remove teeth from someone's mouth
The dentist had to pull teeth to relieve the pain.
reveal teeth in a smile or grimace
She showed teeth in a wide smile.
make teeth knock together from cold or fear
The wind was so cold my teeth rattle!
clench and rub teeth together, showing anger, frustration or distress
He gnashed his teeth when the judge announced the verdict.
clench your teeth tightly
Grit your teeth and hold still while the dentist checks the filling.
barely succeed or escape with a very small margin
He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth.
extremely annoyed or tired of something or someone
She was fed up to the back teeth with the constant noise.
become fully involved in something
Once you get your teeth into the project, you’ll forget the time.
face a difficult situation with determination
He gritted his teeth and continued the climb.
irritate or annoy someone causing discomfort or displeasure
That loud noise really sets my teeth on edge.
succeed or escape with almost no margin
He passed the test by the skin of the teeth.
lack power or ability to enforce or be effective
The new policy will have no teeth without strict penalties.
very difficult or unpleasant to do
Getting him to apologize was like drawing teeth.
extremely rare or scarce
Opportunities like this are rarer than hens' teeth.
lacking power to enforce or punish
The new policy sounds good, but the legislation has no teeth.
display aggression or hostility
She bared her teeth during the heated argument.
show hostility or aggression
The dog bared its teeth when the stranger reached for the gate.
start learning or getting experience in a new area
She cut her teeth in journalism at a local paper.
gain initial experience in a field
She cut her teeth in the marketing industry before starting her own business.
engage enthusiastically in a task or activity
She can't wait to get her teeth into the new project.
unexpected setback or disappointment
Losing the job was a real kick in the teeth.
tell an obvious untruth deliberately
He lied through his teeth about his whereabouts.
speak with deliberate dishonesty
You lied through your teeth when you said you’d never seen the report.
Terms related to like pulling teeth
💡 Terms in the same lexical field: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, hypernyms…
View all translations of like pulling teeth
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- French:comme arracher des dents, ...
- German:mühsam, ...
- Italian:snervante, ...
- Spanish:agotador, ...
- Portuguese:difícil, ...
- Chinese:难得要命的, ...
- Japanese:ひどく骨の折れる, ...
- Arabic:شاق, ...
- Hebrew:מְיַגֵּעַ, ...
- Russian:мучительный, ...
- Ukrainian:надзвичайно важкий і неприємний, ...
- Hindi:दाँत खट्टे कर देने वाला, ...
- Bengali:ভীষণ কষ্টসাধ্য, ...
- Catalan:com treure queixals, ...
- Czech:úmorný, ...
- Danish:ufatteligt besværlig, ...
- Dutch:ontzettend moeizaam, ...
- Greek:πολύ κοπιαστικός, ...
- Hungarian:kínkeserves, ...
- Khmer:ពិបាកខ្លាំងណាស់ និងត្រូវការការខិតខំជាមួយការអត់ធ្មត់ច្រើន, ...
- Korean:진이 빠지는, ...
- Persian:طاقتفرسا, ...
- Polish:katorżniczy, ...
- Portuguese (BR):como tirar leite de pedra, ...
- Romanian:chinuitor, ...
- Swedish:plågsam, ...
- Thai:ยากเหมือนถอนฟัน, ...
- Turkish:çok uğraştırıcı, ...
- Vietnamese:khó như lên trời, ...
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