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English idiom

cut your teeth on

Register · Informal CEFR C1
Post

Figurative meaning

to gain your first experience of something, usually early in your career

Why this phrase?

The image is of a young person's first teeth emerging; figuratively, it marks one's earliest practical experience.

Example

“He cut his teeth on open source before joining a big company.”

Dictionary details

Component words

cut tooth

Tags

Related idioms

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

cut loose

CEFR B1

to abandon restraint and behave freely or wildly

Informal

cut both ways

CEFR B2

to produce both helpful and harmful effects or implications

Neutral

fight tooth and nail

CEFR B2

To struggle with fierce determination, using every available effort to succeed.

Neutral

cut a dash

CEFR C1

to attract admiring attention with a stylish appearance or confident manner

Neutral

cut and dried

CEFR C1

fully settled and clear, with little room for debate or alteration

Neutral

cut and thrust

CEFR C1

the vigorous back-and-forth of intense argument or competition

Neutral

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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