set someone's teeth on edge

English

Verb

set 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)

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.
   • 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:

     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

Translations

to irritate or be unpleasant

• Hungarian: az idegeire megy (hu)
• Ottoman Turkish: قماشدیرمق (kamaştırmak)
• Russian: раздража́ть (ru) impf (razdražátʹ)

to cause unpleasant sensation in one's teeth

• Italian: allegare (it), allappare (it), far venire il mal di denti
• Spanish: dar dentera

See also

• make someone's hair stand on end