Paying through the teeth

You are not logged in. [Log In] Wordsmith.org » Forums » General Topics » Q&A about words » Paying through the teeth

Page 1 of 2

Topic Options

#173507 - 02/12/08 11:52 PM Paying through the teeth
Hydra addict Registered: 08/02/06 Posts: 631	Is this phrase correct? I cannot find it in the dictionary, though it is an expression that I have heard before and used at times. It gets less than 2,000 g-hits. "Paying through the nose", though an expression less familiar to me, gets 90 thousand or so. Of course, it is possible that it the titular expression is a malapropism confused by the similar "lying through one's teeth". Does anyone know the origin of the expression, rhinal or dental?
Top

#173508 - 02/13/08 12:02 AM Re: Paying through the teeth [Re: Hydra]
tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Registered: 04/03/00 Posts: 10462 Loc: this too shall pass	I've not heard of paying through the teeth before, but here's some OneLook hits for pay through the nose. edit: the American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms says.. The origin of this term has been lost. Possibly it alludes to the Danish nose tax, imposed in Ireland in the 9th century, whereby delinquent taxpayers were punished by having their noses slilt. Edited by tsuwm (02/13/08 12:19 AM)
Top

#173509 - 02/13/08 12:22 AM Re: Paying through the teeth [Re: tsuwm]
tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Registered: 04/03/00 Posts: 10462 Loc: this too shall pass	and speaking of lying through one's teeth, this expression presumably alludes to a facial grimace one assumes when lying.
Top

#173512 - 02/13/08 03:02 AM Re: Paying through the teeth [Re: tsuwm]
Zed Pooh-Bah Registered: 08/27/02 Posts: 2154 Loc: British Columbia, Canada	Originally Posted By: tsuwm and speaking of lying through one's teeth, this expression presumably alludes to a facial grimace one assumes when lying. Do you mean the ?
Top

#173513 - 02/13/08 05:41 AM Re: Paying through the teeth [Re: Zed]
Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/24/02 Posts: 7184 Loc: Vermont	paying through the nose and lying through the teeth are the ways I'm familiar with. but I guess it's not rocket surgery. _________________________ formerly known as etaoin...
Top

#173515 - 02/13/08 06:54 AM Re: Paying through the teeth [Re: Buffalo Shrdlu]
zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel Registered: 08/13/05 Posts: 3268 Loc: R'lyeh	Never heard of paying through one's teeth. Sounds unhygienic. _________________________ Ceci n'est pas un seing.
Top

#173519 - 02/13/08 07:46 AM Re: Paying through the teeth [Re: Buffalo Shrdlu]
BranShea Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 5247 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague	Originally Posted By: etaoin paying through the nose and lying through the teeth are the ways I'm familiar with. Ha!
Top

#173521 - 02/13/08 09:39 AM Re: Paying through the teeth [Re: Hydra]
Hydra addict Registered: 08/02/06 Posts: 631	God, I feel like such an idiot. Oh well, it's like they say: A leopard can always learn a new trick.
Top

#173523 - 02/13/08 09:58 AM Re: Paying through the teeth [Re: Buffalo Shrdlu]
Jackie Carpal Tunnel Registered: 03/15/00 Posts: 11577 Loc: Louisville, Kentucky	paying through the nose and lying through the teeth are the ways I'm familiar with. Well well well: perhaps I'll reassess my opinion of you! ;-)
Top

#173525 - 02/13/08 10:04 AM Re: Paying through the teeth [Re: Jackie]
Hydra addict Registered: 08/02/06 Posts: 631	He can lie through his teeth to me, so long as he pays through the nose for it.
Top

Page 1 of 2

Moderator: Jackie

Forum Stats

8419 Members
16 Forums
13684 Topics
209689 Posts

Max Online: 3341 @ 12/09/11 02:15 PM

Newest Members


	Wordsmith Talk		About Us \| What's New \| Search \| Site Map \| Contact Us

Wordsmith Talk