точить зубы

• ТОЧИТЬ <ВОСТРИТЬ, ОСТРИТЬ> ЗУБЫ <ЗУБ> coll

[VP; subj: human]

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1. точить зубы на кого-что, против кого to feel spite toward (a person, organization etc), be determined to cause (him or it) harm:

- X точит зубы на Y-a - X has it in for Y;

- X has (bears, nurses) a grudge against Y;

- X is out to get Y;

- [in limited contexts] Y comes under fire (from X).

     ♦ ...Он [Сталин] спокойно, даже равнодушно сказал [Кирову]: "...Если вместо тебя придёт другой человек и так же хорошо будет справляться с Ленинградом, то они [ленинградские коммунисты] поймут, что дело не только в товарище Кирове, а дело в партии... И на твоего преемника уже не будут точить зубы" (Рыбаков 2). ...Не [Stalin] spoke blandly, almost with indifference: "...If someone else were to take your place and to cope with Leningrad as well as you do, they'd [the Leningrad Communists would] realize that success isn't just a question of Comrade Kirov, but of the Party. ...And they wouldn't have a grudge against your successor" (2a).

     ♦ На наш Отдел точат зубы потому, что он приличнее всех выглядит (Зиновьев 2). Our Section comes under fire because it produces a better impression than all the others (2a).

2. точить зубы на что, less common на кого to seek to seize, take possession of, or have sth. or s.o.:

- X точит зубы на Y ≈ X is anxious <itching, eager> to get hold of Y;

- X is dying to get his hands on Y;

- X has (set) his sights on Y;

- X wants Y in the worst way;

- X hankers for Y;

- X is after Y.

     ♦ "Настоящий мордаш, - продолжал Ноздрёв. - Я, признаюсь, давно острил зубы на мордаша" (Гоголь 3). "A real bulldog," Nozdryov went on. "I must confess I have been anxious to get hold of a bulldog for a long time" (3a). "A real pug," Nozdrev went on. "I must confess I've been hankering for a pug for a long time" (3b). "A purebred pug," Nozdrev said. "I confess I've been after a pug for a long time" (3e).