scarce as hen's teeth

scarce as hen's teeth
разг.
((as) scarce as hen's teeth)
весьма скудные, редкие; ≈ кот наплакал [первонач. амер.]

English and American hands were as scarce as hen's teeth in this unhealthy place. (W. Foster, ‘Pages from a Worker's Life’, ch. II) — Английских и американских рабочих насчитывались единицы в этом гиблом месте.

Men have to stay home and work. The women travel. Good-looking men are scarce as hen's teeth. Most of the men are the ones who have retired twenty years too late. (E. S. Gardner, ‘The Case of the Glamorous Ghost’, ch. 2) — Мужчины остаются дома и работают. Путешествуют женщины. Интересных мужчин кот наплакал. Большинство здешних мужчин ушли на пенсию с опозданием на двадцать лет.

Horses are scarcer than hen's teeth round here. (Suppl) — Лошадей здесь днем с огнем не сыщешь.


Большой англо-русский фразеологический словарь. - М.: «Русский язык-Медиа».. 2006.

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Смотреть что такое "scarce as hen's teeth" в других словарях:

  • scarce as hen's teeth —    To say that something is as scarce as hen s teeth emphasizes that it is extremely rare, to the point of non existence.     Take enough supplies. Water is as scarce as hen s teeth where you re going! …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • scarce as hen's teeth — not many of them, few or none    Rural doctors are scarce as hen s teeth. Doctors like the city life …   English idioms

  • as rare (or scarce) as hen's teeth — extremely rare. → hen …   English new terms dictionary

  • as scarce as hen's teeth — ► as rare (or scarce) as hen s teeth extremely rare. Main Entry: ↑hen …   English terms dictionary

  • as scarce as hen's teeth — rare, uncommon, not many of them    Country doctors are as scarce as hen s teeth …   English idioms

  • be as scarce as hen's teeth — American & Australian to be very difficult or impossible to find. It was the President s inauguration and hotel rooms in Washington were as scarce as hen s teeth …   New idioms dictionary

  • as rare as hen's teeth — ► as rare (or scarce) as hen s teeth extremely rare. Main Entry: ↑hen …   English terms dictionary

  • as rare as hen's teeth — as rare (or scarce) as hen s teeth extremely rare …   Useful english dictionary

  • As scarce as hen's teeth — rare …   Dictionary of Australian slang

  • as scarce as hen's teeth — Australian Slang rare …   English dialects glossary

  • hen — ► NOUN 1) a female bird, especially of a domestic fowl. 2) (hens) domestic fowls of either sex. ● as rare (or scarce) as hen s teeth Cf. ↑as scarce as hen s teeth ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary


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