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Glite Dictionary
to gnash one's teeth

to gnash one's teeth

1 7.9
To grind your teeth together because you feel angry or frustrated
  • idiom
translation icon : rechinar los dientes
  • She began to gnash her teeth when her friend canceled their plans at the last minute.
  • gnashing her teeth and growling

Examples

  • When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.

    Blog text (9)

  • When he heard the unfair decision, he couldn't help but gnash his teeth in frustration.

  • "Uh, Jack, is something wrong?" I was holding my neck, gnashing my teeth.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • So, what will you do other than gnash your teeth now that your god is dead, eh?

    Blog text (29)

  • I stood there gnashing my teeth, feeling cheated.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Environmentalists will weep and gnash their teeth.

    Blog text (3)

  • Lursa and B'Etor gnash their teeth in frustration.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Are you feeling the urge to gnash your teeth and shake your fist about so-called "Obamaphones" now?

    Blog text (26)

  • It wasn't her dilated pupils that caused Leonard to gnash his teeth in rage and humiliation.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • As the team lost the final match, the players sat on the bench, gnashing their teeth in disappointment.

Synonyms

to clench
vsto gnash one's teeth
70 3.5

To squeeze something tightly with your hands or teeth

is the specific teeth action used to show anger or frustration
to gnash
vsto gnash one's teeth
7 8.0

To grind your teeth together because you feel angry or in pain

is broader also covering tight jaw pressing as a sign of anger or frustration
to grit
vsto gnash one's teeth
7 5.6

To press your teeth together when you feel angry or in pain

focuses on anger or frustration rather than determination or endurance
clenched
vsto gnash one's teeth
1 4.2

Tightly closed hands or teeth that show strong feeling

refers specifically to teeth actions as a sign of anger or frustration
to grit one's teeth
vsto gnash one's teeth
  • Informal
1 7.0

To press your teeth together to accept pain or keep going

describes a physical teeth action showing anger or frustration rather than endurance

Antonyms

calm
735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

How Forceful

to gnash one's teeth
1 7.9
to clench
70 3.5

Surface Forms

gnash one's teeth infinitive
gnashed one's teeth past
gnashed one's teeth past participle
gnashing one's teeth present participle
gnashes one's teeth third person singular

Morphology

gnash + one's + teeth

The verb 'gnash' already means to grind the teeth, and combined with the possessive 'one's' and 'teeth' the phrase describes that literal action; its meaning is directly compositional from the constituents. This is a common, cross-linguistically attested physical expression (e.g. French grincer des dents, Spanish rechinar los dientes), so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would understand it.

Etymology

The idiom gnash one's teeth comes from the literal image of someone gnashing their teeth, grinding or pressing them together and making a loud, angry sound. That's why it means 'to show great anger or frustration'.