
To fight tooth and nail is an idiom used to describe a scenario where someone is fighting very hard or with great intensity and determination. The phrase is used when someone is giving their all, striving with every bit of their effort, just as an animal might literally fight with its teeth and claws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | To fight with the intensity and ferocity of a wild animal |
| Synonyms | Struggling fiercely, battling ferociously, giving your all, striving with every bit of your effort |
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What You'll Learn

Fighting tooth and nail means fighting with great intensity and determination
The phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is fighting with the intensity and ferocity of a wild animal. For example, "The resistance forces fought the invading troops tooth and nail." It is often used to describe a situation where someone is spending a lot of time, money, and energy on something, such as "Republicans are fighting tooth and nail to keep these laws in place."
The idiom is a figure of speech and does not refer to a brutal dental procedure or a wild manicure session. It is used to describe a situation where someone is fighting with all their might, just as an animal might literally fight with its teeth and claws.
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It's an idiom
'Tooth and nail' is an idiom that describes a scenario where someone is fighting very hard or with great intensity and determination. It is used to convey the idea of struggling fiercely or battling ferociously to achieve something. The phrase is used when someone is giving their all, striving with every bit of their effort, just as an animal might literally fight with its teeth and claws.
For example, "The resistance forces fought the invading troops tooth and nail". This sentence describes the resistance forces as fighting with the intensity and ferocity of wild animals.
Another example is, "If I had not fought tooth and nail every step of the way, my daughter would be dead". Here, the speaker is conveying that they fought fiercely and gave their all to save their daughter's life.
The idiom 'tooth and nail' is a colourful and expressive way to describe someone's intense determination and effort in a struggle or battle. It is a figure of speech that adds emphasis and impact to the description of a person's fighting spirit.
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It's a figure of speech
'Tooth and nail' is a figure of speech, or idiom, that describes a scenario where someone is fighting very hard or with great intensity and determination. It conveys the idea of struggling fiercely or battling ferociously to achieve something.
The phrase is used to describe someone who is giving their all, striving with every bit of their effort, just as an animal might literally fight with its teeth and claws. For example, "The resistance forces fought the invading troops tooth and nail".
The phrase is often used to describe a situation where someone is fighting against something or someone, but it can also be used to describe a situation where someone is fighting for something. For example, "If I had not fought tooth and nail every step of the way, my daughter would be dead".
The phrase is also used to describe a situation where someone is spending a lot of time, money, and energy on something. For example, "The Republicans are fighting tooth and nail to keep these laws in place".
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It's used to convey the idea of struggling fiercely
The idiom 'to fight tooth and nail' is used to convey the idea of struggling fiercely or battling ferociously to achieve something. It describes a scenario where someone is fighting very hard or with great intensity and determination, giving their all, just as an animal might fight with its teeth and claws. It is used to describe someone who is striving with every bit of their effort and every available means.
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It's used to describe fighting with the intensity and ferocity of a wild animal
To fight "tooth and nail" is to fight with the intensity and ferocity of a wild animal. It's an idiom used to describe a scenario where someone is fighting very hard or with great intensity and determination. It conveys the idea of struggling fiercely or battling ferociously to achieve something.
The phrase is used when someone is giving their all, striving with every bit of their effort and every available means. It's similar to the way an animal might literally fight with its teeth and claws.
For example, "The resistance forces fought the invading troops tooth and nail". This suggests that the resistance forces fought with great intensity, using all their resources and giving their all to strive against the invading troops.
Another example is, "If I had not fought tooth and nail every step of the way, my daughter would be dead". Here, the speaker is emphasising the intensity and determination of their fight to keep their daughter alive.
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Frequently asked questions
It means to fight with great intensity and determination, just as an animal might fight with its teeth and claws.
The phrase is an idiom, which is a figure of speech used to convey the idea of struggling fiercely or battling ferociously to achieve something.
No, it is not literal. It does not refer to a brutal dental procedure or a wild manicure session.
"The resistance forces fought the invading troops tooth and nail."
To fight with every available means or to fight all out.









































