set someone's teeth on edge

verb

To irritate or strike as unpleasant.

“I can't stand his squeaky voice. It always sets my teeth on edge.”

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verbset someone's teeth on edge (third-person singular simple present sets someone's teeth on edge, present participle setting someone's teeth on edge, simple past and past participle set someone's teeth on edge)

present singular third person sets someone's teeth on edge · participle present setting someone's teeth on edge

  1. To irritate or strike as unpleasant.

    I can't stand his squeaky voice. It always sets my teeth on edge.

  2. To cause a disagreeable tingling sensation in one's teeth, as when acids are brought into contact with them.

    For sounds, we see that the grating of a law, or any very harsh noise, will set the teeth on edge, and make all the body shiver

    1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “VIII. Century.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC

Translations

Hungarian az idegeire megy
  • az idegeire megyto irritate or be unpleasant
Italian allegare, allappare
  • allegareto cause unpleasant sensation in one's teeth
  • allappareto cause unpleasant sensation in one's teeth
  • far venire il mal di dentito cause unpleasant sensation in one's teeth
Polish działać na nerwy, grać na nerwach
  • działać na nerwyto irritate or be unpleasant
  • grać na nerwachto irritate or be unpleasant
  • podrażniaćto cause unpleasant sensation in one's teeth
  • podrażnićto cause unpleasant sensation in one's teeth
Russian раздража́ть
  • раздража́ть (razdražátʹ)to irritate or be unpleasant
Spanish dar dentera
  • dar denterato cause unpleasant sensation in one's teeth
Cite this entry
APA

set someone's teeth on edge. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20someone's%20teeth%20on%20edge

MLA

“set someone's teeth on edge.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20someone's%20teeth%20on%20edge. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “set someone's teeth on edge,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/set%20someone's%20teeth%20on%20edge.

Source: set someone's teeth on edge on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.