Phrase guide

cut one's teeth

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To begin; to gain early experience.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • He cut his teeth on flying model airplanes as a child, so aeronautical engineering came naturally.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: aloittaa — gain early experience
  • French: faire ses dents — gain early experience
  • French: se faire les dents sur ... — gain early experience
  • Italian: farsi le ossa — gain early experience
  • Italian: fare la gavetta — gain early experience
  • Latvian: bērnam nāk zobi — gain early experience
  • Polish: zjeść zęby — gain early experience
  • Spanish: hacer sus pinitos — gain early experience
  • Spanish: hacer sus primeras armas — gain early experience