Côte d’Ivoire

montrer les dents

“to show the teeth”

Meaning

to grin broadly

Elsewhere

rire à pleines dents

Explanation

Do this in France and you are squaring up for a fight, baring your teeth the way an animal does. In Côte d'Ivoire and Chad it means grinning broadly, and it is not usually meant kindly.

Example

Arrête de montrer les dents, ce n’est pas drôle.

Stop grinning like that, it isn't funny.

Origin

Origin uncertain.

Where

Côte d’IvoireChad

More like this