sweet tooth

Meaning

If you have a sweet tooth, you love eating sweet foods like candy, chocolate, cake, and cookies. It is a very common, friendly expression used to describe someone's eating preferences. It usually has a lighthearted or slightly self-deprecating tone.

Examples

• I have a terrible sweet tooth, so I always order dessert.

  I have a terrible sweet tooth, so I always order dessert.

• My sister doesn't have a sweet tooth; she prefers salty snacks like chips.

  My sister doesn't have a sweet tooth; she prefers salty snacks like chips.

• If you have a sweet tooth, you will love this bakery.

  If you have a sweet tooth, you will love this bakery.

• I'm trying to cut down on sugar, but my sweet tooth is making it hard.

  I'm trying to cut down on sugar, but my sweet tooth is making it hard.

• Is there any chocolate left? My sweet tooth is kicking in.

  Is there any chocolate left? My sweet tooth is kicking in.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I have a sweet teeth.

  ✓ I have a sweet tooth.

  Even though you have many teeth, the idiom is always singular: 'sweet tooth'.

• ✗ I am a sweet tooth.

  ✓ I have a sweet tooth.

  In English, you 'have' a sweet tooth, you are not 'a' sweet tooth.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I can't resist chocolate because I have a huge ___.

  💡 A phrase meaning you love sugary foods.

  Show answer

  sweet tooth

• Do you have a ___ or do you prefer savory foods?

  💡 The opposite of preferring salty snacks.

  Show answer

  sweet tooth