Meaning & use
buck teeth
Last updated
Meaning
nounpluralinformal
front teeth that stick out noticeably, especially the upper two incisors
Grammar: Always plural; takes a plural verb: His buck teeth are noticeable. Not used in the singular.
Patterns
- have buck teeth
- with buck teeth
As a child, he was teased for his buck teeth.
The dentist said her buck teeth could be corrected with braces.
In the cartoon, the rabbit has big buck teeth.
Common combinations
- have buck teeth
- Many children have buck teeth before their adult teeth settle.
- big buck teeth
- The character is known for his big buck teeth.
- fix buck teeth
- Orthodontists can fix buck teeth with braces or aligners.
Synonyms and how they differ
- protruding teeth
- This is a more neutral, descriptive term; buck teeth is informal and can sound mocking.
- prominent incisors
- This is a formal, clinical phrase used in dentistry; buck teeth is the everyday term.
Commonly confused: buck teeth or buck tooth?
buck teeth vs buck tooth
The singular form is rare and usually only used in compounds like 'buck-toothed'; the standard term is the plural buck teeth.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'buck teeth' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Buck teeth is a plural noun and does not take 'a' or 'the' in this sense. 'He has buck teeth' is the natural, grammatical form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “buck teeth”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.