grit one’s teeth
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 grit one’s teeth、clench one’s teeth
Describes pressing the upper and lower teeth firmly together, often in anger, pain, or tension.
grit one’s teeth、clench one’s teeth
Means to press one’s teeth tightly together, typically as a physical reaction to anger, pain, or tension.
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เขาขบฟันด้วยความโกรธ khǎw khòp fan dûay khwaam kròot He gritted his teeth in anger. เขาขบฟันด้วยความโกรธ details
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อย่าขบฟันแน่นเกินไป yàa khòp fan nɛ̂n kəən pay Don’t clench your teeth too tightly. อย่าขบฟันแน่นเกินไป details
Learning notes
Explanation
ขบฟัน combines ขบ, referring to gripping or pressing with the teeth or jaws, with ฟัน, “teeth.” It describes the physical act of pressing the upper and lower teeth firmly together, often because of anger, pain, or tension. In some contexts it may be interpreted as grinding one’s teeth, though นอนกัดฟัน is more usual for habitual teeth grinding during sleep.
Usage
Used to describe someone tightening their jaw and teeth in anger, pain, or tension. It may also appear in health discussions about clenching and its effects on the teeth or jaw.
Caution
Use กัด for biting an object or food. For the figurative sense of enduring hardship or pushing through difficulty, กัดฟัน is generally more common.