👀 Give One’s Eyeteeth For, To: The Price of Yearning🦷
Definition
To give one’s eyeteeth for, to: To yearn for; to go to any lengths to obtain something. An expression highlighting the notion of making a significant sacrifice to gain an unattainable or highly desired object or outcome.
Synonyms:
- Yearn for - Strongly desire
- Covet - To intensely want something someone else possesses
- Aspire to - Aim to achieve
- Wish for - Hope for
Antonyms:
- Indifference - Lack of interest or concern
- Dismiss - Refuse to consider
Usage in Literature
Anthony Trollope’s Barchester Towers puts this vivid idiom poetically: “Bertie would give his eyes to go with you.” In W. Somerset Maugham’s Cakes and Ale, the phrase transforms into: “He’d give his eyeteeth to have written a book half as good.”
Related Expressions:
- Cut one’s teeth on: To gain initial experience in something, often starting at an apprentice level.
- Give one’s right arm: To make a great sacrifice or show the extent of one’s eagerness.
Example Sentence:
- Joan would give her eyeteeth to be able to visit the Louvre in Paris.
Humorful Quotes:
- “I’d give my eyeteeth for a pizza right now, but knowing my dentist, he’d sooner I gave the payment upfront!”
- “He’d give his eyeteeth to understand quantum physics, but for now, he’s still trying to figure out the instructions on a microwave.”
Similar Terms:
- Die for: “She would die for a chance to sing on Broadway.”
- Move mountains for: “He would move mountains for his children’s happiness.”
In Popular Culture:
Movies which portray immeasurable ambition and sacrifice include:
- The Pursuit of Happyness - A man’s unwavering ambition for a better life.
- Whiplash - A drummer’s strenuous journey to achieve greatness.
Songs:
- “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor - Symbolizing perseverance and ambition.
- “I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons - Portraying the intensity of longing and patience.
Titles for Further Reading:
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck – Depicts sacrifice and yearning.
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – A tale of longing for an idealized life.
As you journey through life, consider what you’d give your eyeteeth for, acknowledging the intensity of your aspirations and the sacrifices they might entail. Keep yearning and let your ambitions guide you to greatness, but cherish the journey as much as the destination.
