hen's tooth

English

Etymology

Example of a jocularly non-existent phenomenon, as many birds lack any teeth (having developed a bill instead). Compare horsefeathers and when pigs fly.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

hen's tooth (plural hen's teeth or hens' teeth)

1. (idiomatic) anything not naturally occurring

   as rare as a hen's tooth

Synonyms

• rocking horse shit; see also Thesaurus:rarity

Translations

something rare or hard to find

• Russian: пти́чье молоко́ (ru) (ptíčʹje molokó)

See also

• unobtanium