Phrase guide

hen's tooth

noun · 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

noun

Meaning 1

Anything not naturally occurring.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • as rare as a hen's tooth

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rocking horse shit, black swan, hen's tooth, lightning in a bottle, one in a million, rara avis, rare bird, rarity, unicorn

Antonyms: none provided

History

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.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Pannonian Rusyn: таще млєко (tašče mljeko) — something rare or hard to find
  • Russian: пти́чье молоко́ (ptíčʹje molokó) — something rare or hard to find