hen's tooth

English

Etymology

Example of a jocularly non-existent phenomenon, as many birds lack any teeth (having developed a bill instead). Compare horsefeathers and when pigs fly.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Noun

hen's tooth (plural hen's teeth or hens' teeth)

1. (idiomatic) Anything not naturally occurring.

   Synonyms: rocking horse shit; see also Thesaurus:rarity

   as rare as a hen's tooth

   • 1992, Edwin Williamson, The Penguin history of Latin America, London, New York: Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 183:

     Indeed, many of the Dutch in Pernambuco were won over to the Church of Rome, ‘whereas converts from Catholicism to Calvinism were as rare as hens’ teeth’.

Translations

something rare or hard to find

• Russian: пти́чье молоко́ (ru) (ptíčʹje molokó)

See also

• unobtanium