Armed to the teeth
Meaning
To be equipped with a large number of weapons, ready for any confrontation.
Origin
The most compelling origin points to the golden age of piracy. Imagine a buccaneer, clambering aboard an enemy ship, with a cutlass in one hand, a pistol in the other, and often a dagger or even a second pistol clenched firmly between their teeth, leaving no part of their person unused in the arsenal. This striking image of a warrior so heavily laden with weapons that their very mouth became a holster painted a clear picture of being utterly prepared for battle, a fearsome sight that inspired the enduring phrase.
Examples
- The security detail arrived, armed to the teeth, prepared for any threat.
- After receiving intel about the ambush, the soldiers marched into the jungle armed to the teeth.