set your teeth on edge
set (one's) teeth on edge
1. To greatly irritate or annoy one, especially to the point of affecting one's nerves. Nothing sets my teeth on edge like seeing these cyclists run every red light in town! I don't know what it is about Terry, but there's something about his demeanor that just sets my teeth on edge.
2. To cause one to be upset, nervous, or uncomfortable. Please don't tell me about your surgery, it sets my teeth on edge hearing about medical procedures.
See also: edge, on, set, teeth
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
set your teeth on edge
If something sets your teeth on edge, you find it extremely annoying or unpleasant. His casual arrogance never failed to set my teeth on edge. He stood and took down the painting. Something about it had lately been setting his teeth on edge.
See also: edge, on, set, teeth
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- put (one's) teeth on edge
- make (one's) teeth itch
- grind (someone's) gears
- drive (one) crazy
- drive crazy
- drive someone crazy
- drive (someone) buggy
- raise (one's) hackles
- raise one's hackles
- raise someone's hackles