kick in the teeth


Also found in: Acronyms.

a kick in the teeth

A humiliating disappointment or setback. Losing my job after my car broke down was a real kick in the teeth.
See also: kick, teeth

kick (one) in the teeth

1. To criticize, exploit, insult, or fail to help someone who is in a trusting or vulnerable position. Can Jeff's employee review wait until next week? His girlfriend just left him, and I don't want to kick him in the teeth. After telling us we'd lost our Christmas bonuses, the company kicked us in the teeth by saying we'd be expected to work every day over winter except for Christmas itself.
2. To give or issue someone a humiliating disappointment or setback. Losing to our cross-town rivals because of such a terrible call by the ref really kicked us in the teeth.
See also: kick, teeth

kick in the teeth

verb
See kick in the seat of the pants
See also: kick, teeth
References in periodicals archive ?
Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "We are very angry at what we see as a kick in the teeth for millions of people.
Anger over drugsruling
This is unbelievable after everything that the farming industry has been through and is another kick in the teeth for them,' she said.
'Unfair' disease levy sparks anger
Secondly Tony Blair's decision to scrap the Welsh Secretary post within the Cabinet and join it with the Scottish Office, with a Scottish lord overseeing Welsh affairs, is not only a slap in the face for democracy but also a kick in the teeth to the people of Wa es Andrew T Nutt Membership Officer, Plaid Cymru, Heolddu Road, Bargoed
VIEWPOINTS: A kick in the teeth for us
These season ticket rises are yet another kick in the teeth for the fans - they are exorbitant.
Fans praise Banks and Sports Mirror investigation
WELSH try-scorer Jamie Robinson admitted conceding three New Zealand scores in the dying minutes of defeat was a kick in the teeth.
Rugby Union: Robinson upset at late surge by All Blacks
Geoff Martin, from campaign group Health Emergency, said: "It's a kick in the teeth.
Staff fear at Hewitt NHS plan
It must also be a real kick in the teeth for the lad because he has been a model professional.
Football: Mac too crocked to rock
We had loads of chances and were pushing forward in the second half, so it's a real kick in the teeth.
Football: BRUNT OWLING MAD; Shef Wed 1 Bradford 2
It's a kick in the teeth but it is a good kick in the teeth, not a bad one.
Football: A GOOD LOSS BY GEORGE!
PSV Eindhoven star Robben also plays wide on the left, and Duff said: "I must admit it was a bit of a kick in the teeth after two months out to hear about it.
Football: New boy robs Duff
I would like to think that there are no more horsemen of doom riding our way, but the power failure was another kick in the teeth for the business.
Blackout a blow to BA
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