have teeth

To have enough power or support of authority to compel obedience or punish offenders, as of a law. This new law against littering has teeth, so if you don't pick up your trash, you'll get a hefty fine. It's a good idea, but it simply doesn't have teeth—there's no way to enforce it.

have teeth

If an organization or law has teeth, it has the necessary authority or power to make people obey it. Pro-democracy campaigners complain that the new assembly will have no teeth. This legislation has teeth, but judges are not imposing the tougher penalties.

have ˈteeth

(British English, informal) (of an organization, a law, etc.) be powerful and effective: It appears that the new legislation doesn’t have any teeth, since there has been no improvement in working conditions.

See also: have, teeth

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

See also:

law of averages
the law of averages
TOBAL
have the law on (someone)
have the law on somebody
against the law
the letter of the law
letter of the law
in the eyes of the law
a necktie party

References in periodicals archive

"Too much sugar is a huge problem in this country, where 48,000 children have teeth out under general anaesthetic in a year.

SPECIALIST DENTIST OFFERS ADVICE TO PARENTS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF SUGAR

He said: "While some teeth need to be removed as they are growing in the wrong place or as a result of accidental damage, a big proportion of these children will have teeth extracted due to preventable decay.

TOOTH ABOUT KIDS' TEETH; Brush up on how to prevent decay and get youngsters well drilled on developing good dental habits

WE SAY DENTAL expert Dr Nigel Carter is right to blame parents for the shocking rise in the number of local children who need to have teeth taken out.

300% rise in kids needing op to have rotten teeth out

Still today many species have teeth with a large main cusp flanked by one or more cusplets.

Shark teeth: form and function

I always took the children for regular check ups - like every good mum should, yet secretly thought, why traipse along to the dentist every six months to have teeth poked with a sharp thing making holes that then have to be drilled, filled and ..aaaaaaargh!

MAUREEN ON MONDAY: That dreaded dentist's chair is looming

词组	have teeth
释义	have teeth have teeth To have enough power or support of authority to compel obedience or punish offenders, as of a law. This new law against littering has teeth, so if you don't pick up your trash, you'll get a hefty fine. It's a good idea, but it simply doesn't have teeth—there's no way to enforce it. See also: have, teeth Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. have teeth If an organization or law has teeth, it has the necessary authority or power to make people obey it. Pro-democracy campaigners complain that the new assembly will have no teeth. This legislation has teeth, but judges are not imposing the tougher penalties. See also: have, teeth Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. have ˈteeth (British English, informal) (of an organization, a law, etc.) be powerful and effective: It appears that the new legislation doesn’t have any teeth, since there has been no improvement in working conditions. See also: have, teeth Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary See also: law of averages the law of averages TOBAL have the law on (someone) have the law on somebody against the law the letter of the law letter of the law in the eyes of the law a necktie party References in periodicals archive "Too much sugar is a huge problem in this country, where 48,000 children have teeth out under general anaesthetic in a year. SPECIALIST DENTIST OFFERS ADVICE TO PARENTS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF SUGAR He said: "While some teeth need to be removed as they are growing in the wrong place or as a result of accidental damage, a big proportion of these children will have teeth extracted due to preventable decay. TOOTH ABOUT KIDS' TEETH; Brush up on how to prevent decay and get youngsters well drilled on developing good dental habits WE SAY DENTAL expert Dr Nigel Carter is right to blame parents for the shocking rise in the number of local children who need to have teeth taken out. 300% rise in kids needing op to have rotten teeth out Still today many species have teeth with a large main cusp flanked by one or more cusplets. Shark teeth: form and function I always took the children for regular check ups - like every good mum should, yet secretly thought, why traipse along to the dentist every six months to have teeth poked with a sharp thing making holes that then have to be drilled, filled and ..aaaaaaargh! MAUREEN ON MONDAY: That dreaded dentist's chair is looming
随便看	make a hit make a hit with make a hit with (someone) make a hit with (someone or something) make a hole in make a hole in (something) make a hole in the water make a Horlicks of make a Horlicks of (something) make a joke of (something) make a joke of something make a killing make a lap Make a lap! make a laughingstock of make a laughingstock of (someone, something, or oneself) make a leap of faith make a leg make a life for (oneself) make a life for oneself make a living make a living by (doing something) make a living from make a living from (doing) (something) make a living out of (doing) (something)