toothless

Everyday

1. Toothless means having no teeth, or having lost teeth: a toothless baby, a toothless grin. tree →
2. Toothless also means having no real power to make people obey: a toothless law, a toothless rule that no one enforces. tree →
3. Toothless can also mean feeble or useless, as an insult. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life babies and some old people are toothless, and children have gappy, toothless grins when baby teeth fall out. In news and citizenship lessons, a "toothless" rule, watchdog or body has no power to punish. In "How to Train Your Dragon", Toothless is the name of the dragon (he can pull in his teeth). Phrases: "toothless grin", "toothless law", "toothless watchdog".

Examples

• The baby gave us a big toothless smile. tree →
• After losing two front teeth, my brother had a toothless grin. tree →
• Grandpa takes out his false teeth and looks toothless. tree →
• Without fines, the new rule is toothless. tree →
• Critics called the committee a toothless watchdog. tree →
• In the film, Toothless is a black Night Fury dragon. tree →
• Some whales are toothless and filter food instead. tree →
• What have we to do with this toothless fool? tree →

Note

Formed from tooth + less ("without"). A law with "teeth" is one that can punish; a toothless law cannot. As a name (Toothless the dragon) it has a capital T.