pull teeth
Remove rooted molars
To pull teeth is to extract something with great difficulty, as if performing amateur dentistry.
The phrase almost always appears in comparisons: Getting him to talk about his feelings is like pulling teeth.
It emphasizes that obtaining information, cooperation, or action from someone requires exhausting effort.
Act of removing
- forcepsMedical grasping instrument
- pliersHinged metal gripping tool
- yankQuick, forceful pull
- tugShort forceful pull
novocaine · anesthesia · dentist · molar · root · jaw · oral surgery · impacted
Demanding strenuous effort
- gruelingExtremely tiring and demanding
- onerousInvolving excessive difficulty
- strenuousRequiring intense exertion
- demandingRequiring great effort
laborious · effortful · uphill · painstaking · hard-won · struggle · ordeal · slog
Intensely irritating
- maddeningCausing extreme frustration
- infuriatingCausing extreme anger
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
- tediousBoring through length
tiresome · wearisome · trying · vexing · grating · thankless · unrewarding · fruitless
Withstanding external forces
- unwillingOpposed to participating
- uncooperativeUnwilling to assist others
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
- tight-lippedUnwilling to divulge
stonewalling · foot-dragging · recalcitrant · obstinate · stubborn · begrudging · hesitant · cagey
extraction
Act of removing
tug · novocaine · anesthesia · dentist · molar · root · jaw · oral surgery · impacted · socket
arduous
Demanding strenuous effort
- gruelingExtremely tiring and demanding
- onerousInvolving excessive difficulty
- strenuousRequiring intense exertion
demanding · laborious · effortful · uphill · painstaking · hard-won · struggle · ordeal · slog · grind
exasperating
Intensely irritating
- maddeningCausing extreme frustration
- infuriatingCausing extreme anger
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
tedious · tiresome · wearisome · trying · vexing · grating · thankless · unrewarding · fruitless · futile
resistant
Withstanding external forces
- unwillingOpposed to participating
- uncooperativeUnwilling to assist others
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
tight-lipped · stonewalling · foot-dragging · recalcitrant · obstinate · stubborn · begrudging · hesitant · cagey · withholding
pull teetha breeze
a walk in the park · easy as pie · freely given · child's play · effortless
pull teethvolunteered
Gave services unpaid
handed over · forthcoming · freely given · spilled the beans · unprompted
pull teethspill the beans
Reveal confidential information
open up · pour out · gush · offer up · spill one's guts
pull, pulls, pulled, pulling, tooth, teeth, toothed, toothy, toothless