To suck the air between one's teeth

I haven't heard these expressions. You can hold your breath (in suspense over something)

It's not an expression or anything like that, but there is nothing stopping you from saying it. Now that you mention it, I'm surprised that there isn't a standard expression or word for that, as there is for sighing and gasping and snorting. I'd go with sucking air through his teeth, maybe through gritted teeth to complete the image.

AnonymousIs this an idiom?To suck the air between one's teethTo suck air through your teethTo suck teeth

No, it's not an idiom. It means literally what it says. It's a quick inhalation of air through somewhat clenched teeth, making a fricative sound similar to the "sh" sound. It is usually used as a reaction to something disturbing or in anticipation of som

Hi

To "suck teeth" is to show that you are angry about a person or a situation

I would place it as Afro-Caribbean, but I could be wrong

It's a good expression - occasional in London - and I believe these guys are North American ...

dave_anonTo "suck teeth" is to show that you are angry about a person or a situationI would place it as Afro-Caribbean, but I could be wrongIt's a good expression - occasional in London - and I believe these guys are North American ...

Look at 1:02 in the video. They are talking about something else, more of a "tch" than the prolonged sharp inhalation through

dave_anonTo "suck teeth" is to show that you are angry about a person or a situation

Hmm. I think I've heard that sound called 'tongue clucking', sometimes written as 'tsk', and I was not aware that anyone considered it a sign of anger. There appears to be some confusion about which expressions refer to which actions.

Hi

Just as a postscript. I was in a London pub this afternoon and settled a minor debt. The response was a clicking sound from the corner of the mouth which was friendly and meant: "It's cool; we're settled"

So, yes, it is very complicated!

Dave

I'm pretty sure in N. America, literally sucking air between teeth, (usually clenched) is the reaction to seeing something so awkward it becomes physically painful. And the sound is the person having to deal with the stinging sensation from viewing all that painful embarrassment they just witnessed.

Or something close to that.