hæv ə swiːt tuːθ
Food & Cooking
informal
beginner
- Literally:
- To have a tooth that is sweet
What does "have a sweet tooth" mean?
- To have a strong liking for sweet foods
- To enjoy desserts, candy, and sugary treats
Examples
- I have a sweet tooth—I can never resist chocolate cake.
- My grandmother has a sweet tooth and always keeps candy around.
- People with a sweet tooth should try our dessert menu.
Origin
Dates back to at least the 14th century. The 'tooth' metaphorically refers to taste preferences, particularly the craving for sweetness.
How to use it
Very common expression. Often used self-descriptively or as an explanation for dessert choices.
Similar expressions
love sweets
crave sugar
dessert lover
Opposites
prefer savory
dislike sweets
Related idioms
- piece of cake
Something very easy to do
- a piece of cake
Something very easy to do
- in a nutshell
In a very brief or concise form
- an apple a day keeps the doctor away
Eating fruit or having a healthy diet helps maintain good health
- bite off more than you can chew
To take on more responsibility or work than one can handle
- don't put all your eggs in one basket
Don't risk everything on a single opportunity
Use it in a practice answer
Try "have a sweet tooth" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.