in spite of his teeth
Preserved but no longer current.
In opposition to his settled purpose or resolution; even though he snarl and show his teeth like an angry dog. Holmshed tells us of a Bristol Jew, who suffered a tooth to be drawn daily for seven days before he would submit to the extortion of King John.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “in spite of his teeth” mean?
In opposition to his settled purpose or resolution; even though he snarl and show his teeth like an angry dog. Holmshed tells us of a Bristol Jew, who suffered a tooth to be drawn daily for seven days before he would submit to the extortion of King John.
Is “in spite of his teeth” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.