Avoir une dent contre quelqu'un

Expression: Avoir une dent contre quelqu'un

Pronunciation: [a vwa roon da(n) ko(n) tr(eu) kel koo(n)]

Meaning: to hold a grudge against someone, to have it in for someone

Literal translation: to have a tooth against someone

Register: informal

Variation: Garder une dent contre quelqu'un

Notes: I like the French expression avoir une dent contre quelqu'un for its image of not actually biting the person you're mad at, but being right up against him or her with teeth bared. It also makes me think of other expressions in which teeth are linked to anger:
   to grit one's teeth - serrer les dents
   to bare one's teeth - montrer les dents
   to fight tooth and nail - défendre bec et ongles

Example:
   Laurence a une dent contre moi depuis deux semaines.
   Laurence has had a grudge against for me for two weeks.

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• Expressions with avoir
• Expressions with contre
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• Parts of the body