Kick somebody in the teeth
verb phrase
To treat someone badly or unfairly, especially at a time when they need support.
After all the work I did, they chose someone else for the promotion. It feels like they kicked me in the teeth.
Often appears as...
- feel like a kick in the teeth
- action was a kick in the teeth
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
verb phrase
To suddenly stop someone from succeeding, often in a cruel way.
When the company announced bankruptcy, it was a real kick in the teeth for its employees.
Often appears as...
- financial kick in the teeth
- unexpected kick in the teeth
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To treat someone badly or unfairly, especially at a time when they need support.
After all the work I did, they chose someone else for the promotion. It feels like they kicked me in the teeth.
Often appears as...
- feel like a kick in the teeth
- action was a kick in the teeth
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
verb phrase
To suddenly stop someone from succeeding, often in a cruel way.
When the company announced bankruptcy, it was a real kick in the teeth for its employees.
Often appears as...
- financial kick in the teeth
- unexpected kick in the teeth
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Feeling Betrayed
Emphasizes the emotional impact of being let down during difficult times.
He supported her throughout, so her leaving was a kick in the teeth.
Pro Tip 2/3Support Withdrawn
Suggests a sudden lack of support when it was most expected or needed.
The cancelation of funding felt like a kick in the teeth to the researchers.
Pro Tip 3/3Casual Expression
Commonly used in informal situations among friends or in personal anecdotes.
It was a kick in the teeth to find out they went to the concert without me.
Pro Tip 1/3Feeling Betrayed
Emphasizes the emotional impact of being let down during difficult times.
He supported her throughout, so her leaving was a kick in the teeth.
Pro Tip 2/3Support Withdrawn
Suggests a sudden lack of support when it was most expected or needed.
The cancelation of funding felt like a kick in the teeth to the researchers.
Pro Tip 3/3Casual Expression
Commonly used in informal situations among friends or in personal anecdotes.
It was a kick in the teeth to find out they went to the concert without me.
Pro Tip 1/3Feeling Betrayed
Emphasizes the emotional impact of being let down during difficult times.
He supported her throughout, so her leaving was a kick in the teeth.
Pro Tip 2/3Support Withdrawn
Suggests a sudden lack of support when it was most expected or needed.
The cancelation of funding felt like a kick in the teeth to the researchers.
Pro Tip 3/3Casual Expression
Commonly used in informal situations among friends or in personal anecdotes.
It was a kick in the teeth to find out they went to the concert without me.
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