З-204

ТОЧИТЬ (ВОСТРИТЬ, ОСТРИТЬ) ЗУБЫ (ЗУБ) coll VP subj: human

1. \З-204 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). ...He (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. \З-204 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).