scarcer



scarcer than hens' teeth

Incredibly scarce or rare; extremely difficult or impossible to find. Support for the president is scarcer than hens' teeth in this part of the country.
See also: scarcer, teeth

*scarce as hen's teeth

 and scarcer than hen's teeth
Cliché scarce; seldom found. (*Also: as ~.) I do declare, decent people are as scarce as hen's teeth in these chaotic times. Handmade lace is scarcer than hen's teeth; most lace is made by machine.
See also: scarce, teeth

scarce as hen's teeth

Also, scarcer than hen's teeth. Exceptionally rare, as in On a rainy night, taxis are as scarce as hen's teeth. Since hens have no teeth, this term in effect says that something is so scarce as to be nonexistent. [Mid-1800s]
See also: scarce, teeth

scarce as hen's teeth

Nonexistent. Hens have no teeth, so what could possibly be scarcer? (Stones in their gizzards act as teeth to grind their food).
See also: scarce, teeth

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
EdmÉ-French (Archaic)
RuadhÁNROO-awnIrish
Annora-English (Rare)
Indrani-Hinduism, Bengali, Indian, Hindi
Katlego-Southern African, Tswana
CainKAYN (English)Biblical, Biblical Latin