THE CAT'S PAJAMAS I

Tad Tuleja 

A collection of the (mostly) true origins of familiar phrases

 

ARMED TO THE TEETH

 

This phrase conjures up the image of a fully armed warrior. The image is ironic, for the original warriors armed to the teeth were anything but fully protected. They were the Berserkers of ancient Scandinavia, fanatical devotees of Odin who were so fearless of combat that they entered battle without armor, protected only by bear skins. Their usual tools were large clubs, but their chief hidden weapon was their teeth. These they filed down to sharp points and used with legendary ferocity and success to dispatch better armed, but less savage opponents. They were expert at getting under a flailing sword and getting their attacker's throat in a death grip. Our word berserk is the legacy of the wild, out-of-control Berserkers. Linguist also think that this is where we got our expression to go for the throat.