English in a Minute: Fight Tooth and Nail

 

 

A : Jonathan, did you see that email from Simone?

    She did not get the manager's position.

J : What?  She fought tooth and nail for that job!

A : Well, she may have fought hard for it ... but she didn't get it.

J : Ouch !

 

When you "fight tooth and nail.", you fight hard.  You try your best to win and don't give up.

When using this idiom though, make sure and keep it singular.

 

fight tooth and nail  (for somebody/something/  to do something) ;

이를 악물고[필사적으로] 싸우다

The residents are fighting tooth and nail to stop the new development.

We fought the government tooth and nail to prevent the new road being built.

tooth and nail   ;

전력을 다하여, 필사적으로