Haare auf den Zähnen haben
to be tough, assertive and sharp-tongued (not to be trifled with)
Origin
Origin uncertain; probably from the late Middle Ages/early modern period, when especially combative, 'manly' people were imagined to have excessive hair growth even in impossible places (hair was seen as a sign of bravery/strength). An older form was 'to have hair on the tongue' (attested in Sebastian Franck, 1534).
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Verb 'haben' (to have), present: er/sie/es hat (he/she/it has)Verb 'haben' im Präsens: er/sie/es hat
- Simple past of 'haben': du hattest (you had)Präteritum von 'haben': du hattest
- Comparative and superlative used attributivelyKomparativ und Superlativ attributiv
- Reflexive verbs with the dativeReflexive Verben mit Dativ
Examples
Mit ihr legt sich nicht an — sie hat Haare auf den Zähnen.
You'd better not mess with her — she's a tough cookie who gives as good as she gets.