jaws
The jaws are the hard parts of your mouth that hold your teeth and move when you chew.
Explanation at your level:
Your jaws are in your mouth. You use them to eat food. When you open your mouth, your jaws move. They are very important for talking and eating every day.
The jaws are the top and bottom parts of your mouth. They hold your teeth. If you have a toothache, your jaws might hurt. Animals like lions and sharks have very strong jaws.
We use the word jaws to describe the bony parts of the mouth. In movies, you might hear about the 'jaws of a monster.' It is also used to describe parts of machines that grip things, like the jaws of a metal clamp.
While jaws refers to anatomy, it is frequently used in metaphors. We talk about the 'jaws of a trap' or 'the jaws of a canyon' to describe narrow, closing spaces. It carries a sense of being trapped or caught.
In formal or literary English, jaws can represent an inescapable force. Writers often use it to create tension, such as 'the jaws of poverty' or 'the jaws of war.' It implies a predatory, consuming nature that is difficult to escape.
Etymologically, jaws has evolved from terms relating to the cheek to encompass the entire masticatory apparatus. Its usage in literature often evokes a primal, visceral imagery. Whether describing the mechanical grip of a vice or the biological reality of a predator, the word retains a sense of crushing power and structural necessity.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Jaws are mouth bones.
- Used for eating/talking.
- Metaphor for traps.
- Always plural.
When we talk about jaws, we are usually referring to the physical structures in our face. Think about how your mouth moves when you take a bite of an apple; those are your jaws doing the hard work!
Beyond anatomy, the word is often used figuratively. If someone says they are in the 'jaws of defeat,' they mean they are in a very dangerous or inescapable situation. It is a powerful word that implies strength, hunger, or a tight, threatening hold.
The word jaws has a fascinating history. It likely comes from the Middle English word jowe, which is related to the Old French word joue, meaning 'cheek'.
Over centuries, the meaning shifted from just the cheek to the entire bony structure holding the teeth. It is a great example of how language evolves to describe specific body parts more accurately as our understanding of anatomy grew.
You will hear jaws used in both casual and dramatic contexts. In a medical sense, a doctor might discuss 'jaw alignment.' In storytelling, you might hear about 'the jaws of a shark' or 'the jaws of a trap.'
It is almost always used in the plural because we have an upper and a lower jaw that work as a pair. Using the singular 'jaw' is possible, but 'jaws' is the standard way to describe the whole mechanism.
1. In the jaws of death: Being in a very dangerous situation. Example: The rescue team saved the puppy from the jaws of death.
2. Jaw-dropping: Something so amazing it makes your mouth fall open. Example: The magician performed a jaw-dropping trick.
3. Lockjaw: A medical condition where the mouth cannot open. Example: He had to get a shot to prevent lockjaw.
4. Jabbering jaws: Someone talking too much. Example: Please stop your jabbering jaws for a moment!
5. Set one's jaws: To show determination. Example: She set her jaws and finished the marathon.
Jaws is a plural noun. Even though it acts as one unit, we treat it as plural because it consists of two parts. The IPA pronunciation is /dʒɔːz/ in both British and American English.
It rhymes with 'paws', 'laws', 'flaws', and 'cause'. Remember that the 'j' sound is soft and voiced, coming from the back of the throat.
Fun Fact
The movie Jaws made the word famous globally.
Pronunciation Guide
Soft g, long o, z sound.
Similar to UK, clear z.
Common Errors
- pronouncing j as y
- missing the s sound
- shortening the o
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Plural Nouns
jaws
Examples by Level
My jaws hurt.
My mouth parts ache.
Plural noun.
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...
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...
...
...
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The shark has big jaws.
Open your jaws wide.
My jaws are tired from chewing.
The dog has a bone in its jaws.
He moved his jaws to speak.
The trap has metal jaws.
She hurt her jaws.
Keep your jaws relaxed.
The canyon has narrow jaws.
The vice has steel jaws.
He set his jaws in anger.
The jaws of the machine closed.
She suffered from locked jaws.
The lion opened its jaws.
The creature has powerful jaws.
Avoid straining your jaws.
He escaped the jaws of defeat.
The jaws of the valley were dark.
She felt the jaws of the trap.
The machine's jaws crushed the metal.
He clenched his jaws tightly.
The jaws of history are unforgiving.
The jaws of the storm approached.
She stared into the jaws of the beast.
Caught in the jaws of bureaucracy.
The jaws of the abyss opened wide.
He faced the jaws of the economic crisis.
The jaws of the press were relentless.
She stood in the jaws of the canyon.
The jaws of the fire consumed the house.
The jaws of the trap snapped shut.
He navigated the jaws of the legal system.
The jaws of fate seemed to close upon him.
A relic from the jaws of the ancient earth.
The jaws of the machine were rusted shut.
She felt the jaws of time closing in.
The jaws of the cavern were pitch black.
The jaws of the beast were terrifying.
He escaped the jaws of certain death.
The jaws of the conflict were inescapable.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"jaw-dropping"
shocking
The price was jaw-dropping.
casual""
""
""
""
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Easily Confused
similar sound
paws are for animals
The cat has paws.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + clench + jaws
He clenched his jaws.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
It is almost always used in the plural form.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize a shark.
Native Speakers
Use it for intensity.
Cultural Insight
The movie reference.
Grammar Shortcut
Always plural.
Say It Right
Rhymes with laws.
Don't Make This Mistake
Singular vs plural.
Did You Know?
Related to cheek.
Study Smart
Use in sentences.
Metaphorical use
Use for traps.
IPA practice
Focus on the dʒ.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Jaws = Just Always Working (for eating).
Visual Association
A shark's mouth.
Word Web
Challenge
Say 'clench your jaws' 5 times.
Word Origin
Middle English
Original meaning: cheek
Cultural Context
None
Commonly associated with sharks due to the film.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Dentist
- open your jaws
- jaw pain
- jaw alignment
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever seen the movie Jaws?"
"Do you clench your jaws when stressed?"
"What do you think of shark jaws?"
"Can you describe a jaw-dropping moment?"
"Do you know any other words for mouth?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you felt trapped.
Write about a shark.
What makes your jaw drop?
Why do we clench our jaws?
Frequently Asked Questions
9 questionsYes, but usually plural.
Test Yourself
I use my ___ to eat.
Jaws are for eating.
What are jaws?
Jaws are anatomical.
Jaws is usually singular.
It is plural.
Word
Meaning
Idiom match.
Correct structure.
He escaped the ___ of death.
Idiomatic usage.
Which is an antonym for the figurative 'jaws'?
Jaws implies being trapped.
Jaw is a verb.
It means to talk.
Word
Meaning
Functional match.
Subject-verb-object.
Score: /10
Summary
Jaws are the powerful structures of the mouth that hold our teeth and represent strength or entrapment.
- Jaws are mouth bones.
- Used for eating/talking.
- Metaphor for traps.
- Always plural.
Memory Palace
Visualize a shark.
Native Speakers
Use it for intensity.
Cultural Insight
The movie reference.
Grammar Shortcut
Always plural.
