tooth and nail

adverb

: with every available means : all out
fight tooth and nail

Examples of tooth and nail in a Sentence

I'll fight tooth and nail to win the finals.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Margaret, having married an older man expecting guidance, is instead forced to build her family’s future from the ground up, only to fight tooth and nail to preserve it after her husband nearly destroys them. Itzel Luna, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025 The Mail titles, though, have vigorously denied the allegations and look poised to fight the case tooth and nail, with a trial currently slated for early 2026. Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025 In an entertainment landscape where studios are fighting tooth and nail for a rapidly diminishing slice of viewers’ attention, the rise of artificial intelligence represents a massive threat. Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025 Others, understandably, would fight tooth and nail to try to keep that key figure. Thom Harris, New York Times, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for tooth and nail

Word History

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tooth and nail was in 1550

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tooth and nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tooth%20and%20nail. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

tooth and nail

adverb
: as hard as one can
fighting tooth and nail
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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