Meaning
Losing strength or position
Cultural Background
In rural Bengal, 'দাঁত' (teeth) are often associated with age and wisdom. A person losing teeth is seen as someone whose time of dominance is passing. Political cartoons in Bangladesh and West Bengal often depict leaders with literal wobbly teeth to show they are losing public support. In modern Kolkata or Dhaka offices, this phrase is used as a warning among colleagues to stay alert during management changes.
Context is King
Always check if the person is actually at the dentist before assuming they are losing power!
Avoid Direct Use
Never tell your boss 'আপনার দাঁত নড়ছে' unless you want to lose your job.
Meaning
Losing strength or position
Context is King
Always check if the person is actually at the dentist before assuming they are losing power!
Avoid Direct Use
Never tell your boss 'আপনার দাঁত নড়ছে' unless you want to lose your job.
News Reading
Look for this phrase in Bengali political editorials to see it used in complex sentences.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'দাঁত নড়া'.
নির্বাচনে হারার পর নেতার ______ গেছে।
The idiom 'দাঁত নড়ে যাওয়া' fits the context of losing power after an election.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'দাঁত নড়া'?
When would you say 'ম্যানেজারের দাঁত নড়ছে'?
The idiom refers to professional instability.
Match the Bengali phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are all synonyms for instability in different registers.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
3 exercisesনির্বাচনে হারার পর নেতার ______ গেছে।
The idiom 'দাঁত নড়ে যাওয়া' fits the context of losing power after an election.
When would you say 'ম্যানেজারের দাঁত নড়ছে'?
The idiom refers to professional instability.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are all synonyms for instability in different registers.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsYes, but only literally. For a child, it just means they are losing a baby tooth.
It can be. It's informal and implies weakness, so use it with friends, not in formal meetings.
You could say 'ভিত্তি শক্ত হওয়া' (foundation becoming strong) or 'কামড়ে পড়ে থাকা' (holding on tight).
Yes, 'কোম্পানির দাঁত নড়ে গেছে' means the company is failing.
Yes, it is equally common in both regions.
Related Phrases
ভিত্তি নড়া
synonymFoundation shaking
আসন টলা
similarThrone moving
দাঁত ভাঙা জবাব
builds onA tooth-breaking reply
নড়বড়ে হওয়া
similarTo become shaky
