Cut your teeth Meaning in English
expression
ˈkət/ /ˈjɔɹ/, /ˈjʊɹ/ /ˈtiθ
KUHT yor TEETH, KUHT yer TEETH
kˈʌt/ /jˈɔː/ /tˈiːθ
kut YAW TEETH
Definition
To get your first experience doing something, especially in a job or profession.
Usage & Nuances
This is an idiom, often informal, always used in past tense to describe where someone started gaining skills or experience. Commonly followed by 'in' or 'on' (e.g., 'cut his teeth in sales'). Does not mean actual teeth.
Spanish: adquirir experiencia - iniciarse (en algo)Portuguese (BR): ganhar experiência - começar (em algo)Portuguese (PT): ganhar experiência - começar (em algo)Chinese (Simplified): 积累经验 - 初涉（某领域）Chinese (Traditional): 累積經驗 - 初涉（某領域）Hindi: अनुभव प्राप्त करना - शुरुआत करनाArabic: اكتساب الخبرة - بدء العمل (في مجال معين)Bengali: প্রথম অভিজ্ঞতা অর্জন করা - হাতেখড়ি নেওয়াRussian: набираться первого опыта - получить первые навыкиJapanese: 初めて経験を積むVietnamese: bắt đầu tích lũy kinh nghiệm - có trải nghiệm đầu tiênKorean: 처음 경험을 쌓다Turkish: ilk deneyimini kazanmakUrdu: پہلا تجربہ حاصل کرناIndonesian: mengasah pengalaman pertama - mendapatkan pengalaman awal
Example Sentences
He cut his teeth working in his uncle's store.
basic
Many journalists cut their teeth at local newspapers.
basic
She cut her teeth on small projects before leading the team.
basic
I cut my teeth in the restaurant business washing dishes.
natural
Where did you cut your teeth as a designer?
natural
Most actors cut their teeth performing in small theaters before making it big.
natural