bone in someone's teeth
- idiom
- Informal
:
con determinación
- The reporter pursued the story with a bone in her teeth, determined to uncover the truth.
Examples
-
She tackled the negotiations with a bone in her teeth, refusing to back down.
-
He worked on the project as if he had a bone in his teeth, relentless and driven.
-
He has a bone in his teeth about winning this race.
-
Don't underestimate her; she has a bone in her teeth about this competition!
-
He approached the problem with a bone in his teeth, refusing to accept any obstacles in his way.
-
The athlete ran the marathon with a bone in her teeth, determined to achieve her personal best.
-
The lawyer argued the case with a bone in his teeth, showing unwavering commitment to his client.
Synonyms
8
6.7
In a way that shows strong determination and keeps trying without giving up
1
4.7
Being very determined and refusing to give up
1
7.8
To fight very hard and often unfairly to win
1
7.7
Very strong and not easily broken or changed
Act in a very fierce and aggressive way when trying to keep or get something
Antonyms
How Determined
Surface Forms
Morphology
The image of literally holding a 'bone in one's teeth' evokes gripping or refusing to let go, so there is a clear metaphorical link between the constituents and the idea of tenacity. However, this specific phrasing is idiomatic and not a standard compositional pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the words would likely not reliably infer the exact figurative sense without prior exposure or cultural knowledge.
Etymology
The idiom bone in someone's teeth may come from the image of a dog holding a bone tightly in its teeth and refusing to let go. So, it means 'acting with strong determination and not giving up'.