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Posted By: Hydra Paying through the teeth - 02/13/08 04:52 AM
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?
Posted By: tsuwm Re: Paying through the teeth - 02/13/08 05:02 AM
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.
Posted By: tsuwm Re: Paying through the teeth - 02/13/08 05:22 AM
and speaking of lying through one's teeth, this expression presumably alludes to a facial grimace one assumes when lying.
Posted By: Zed Re: Paying through the teeth - 02/13/08 08:02 AM
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 ?
Posted By: Buffalo Shrdlu Re: Paying through the teeth - 02/13/08 10:41 AM
paying through the nose and lying through the teeth are the ways I'm familiar with.

but I guess it's not rocket surgery.
Posted By: zmjezhd Re: Paying through the teeth - 02/13/08 11:54 AM
Never heard of paying through one's teeth. Sounds unhygienic.
Posted By: BranShea Re: Paying through the teeth - 02/13/08 12:46 PM
Originally Posted By: etaoin
paying through the nose and lying through the teeth are the ways I'm familiar with.
Ha!
Posted By: Hydra Re: Paying through the teeth - 02/13/08 02:39 PM
God, I feel like such an idiot.

Oh well, it's like they say: A leopard can always learn a new trick.
Posted By: Jackie Re: Paying through the teeth - 02/13/08 02:58 PM
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! ;-)
Posted By: Hydra Re: Paying through the teeth - 02/13/08 03:04 PM
He can lie through his teeth to me, so long as he pays through the nose for it.
Posted By: Zed Re: Paying through the teeth - 02/14/08 02:21 AM
Will it cost him an arm and a leg?
Posted By: The Pook Re: Paying through the teeth - 02/21/08 12:47 AM
Originally Posted By: Zed
Will it cost him an arm and a leg?


Not sure, can't quite put my finger on it, but is there a term for sayings like paying through the nose, lying through the teeth, costing an arm and a leg, going over my head, keeping an eye on things, etc that use body parts as metaphors?
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