Phrase guide

tooth and nail

adv · 2 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adv

Meaning 1

Viciously; with all one's strength or power; without holding back.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • For a century, the two families fought tooth and nail over control of the land.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tooth and claw, tooth, fang, and claw

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

with force and ferocity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • she fought tooth and nail

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the Middle English phrase (with) nayles and teþ (“viciously, ferociously”, literally “(with) nails and teeth”).

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: amb dents i ungles — viciously
  • Czech: zuby nehty — viciously
  • Dutch: met hand en tand — viciously
  • Finnish: kynsin hampain — viciously
  • French: bec et ongles — viciously
  • German: mit Händen und Füßen — viciously
  • Greek: με νύχια και με δόντια (me nýchia kai me dóntia) — viciously
  • Hungarian: foggal-körömmel — viciously
  • Italian: con le unghie e con i denti — viciously
  • Latvian: ar nagiem un zobiem — viciously
  • Norwegian: med nebb och klør — viciously
  • Polish: zawzięcie — viciously
  • Polish: zażarcie — viciously
  • Polish: zaciekle — viciously
  • Portuguese: com unhas e dentes — viciously
  • Serbo-Croatian: zubima i noktima — viciously
  • Spanish: con uñas y dientes — viciously
  • Spanish: a brazo partido — viciously
  • Spanish: a capa y espada — viciously
  • Swedish: med näbbar och klor — viciously