if it had teeth, it'd bite one

English

Phrase

if it had teeth, it'd bite one

1. (US, colloquial, humorous) It is in plain sight; one should be able to see it for oneself.
   • 1942, Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Western Union, Please: A Comedy in Three Acts, page 5:

     ALICE. Where's the sugar, Mother?
     JENNIE. Right under your nose. If it had teeth, it'd bite you.

   • 1994, Lawrence Sanders, Three Complete Novels, page 354:

     Maybe there was a gross flaw, so obvious that they were all missing it, just as Mario sometimes said, "Where's the dried oregano?" when the jar was in plain view on the countertop. Then Dora would say, "If it had teeth, it'd bite you."

   • 2008, Barbara Parisi, The Best American Short Plays, 2004-2005, page 270:

     LETTY (Quite suddenly younger, timid.) Ma says to pass the salt, Pa.
     CAP (Deep voiced, strong, harsh.) You can tell her it's over there.
     LETTY She says where, Pa?
     CAP If it had teeth, it'd bite her.