Meaning & use
pearly white teeth
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Teeth that are bright, smooth, and shiny, like pearls, often considered attractive.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase; it can follow 'have', 'show', or 'flash'. It is not used as a verb.
Patterns
- have pearly white teeth
- show pearly white teeth
- flash pearly white teeth
After her teeth whitening treatment, she smiled and showed her pearly white teeth.
The actor is famous for his pearly white teeth and bright smile.
Good dental care can help you keep pearly white teeth as you age.
Common combinations
- pearly white smile
- She greeted us with a pearly white smile.
- flash pearly white teeth
- He flashed his pearly white teeth for the camera.
- have pearly white teeth
- Many models have pearly white teeth thanks to regular whitening.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bright white teeth
- More literal and less poetic; it simply describes the color, while 'pearly white teeth' suggests a shiny, healthy appearance.
- snow-white teeth
- Emphasizes pure whiteness, often unrealistically; 'pearly white' adds a hint of glossiness.
Opposites
Commonly confused: pearly white teeth or pearly whites?
pearly white teeth vs pearly whites
This is an informal plural noun meaning 'teeth', not necessarily white ones. 'Pearly white teeth' is a descriptive phrase, while 'pearly whites' is a slang term for teeth in general.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase 'pearly white teeth' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly uses the plural noun 'teeth' after the adjective phrase. Option 1 is wrong because 'a' cannot be used with plural 'teeth'. Option 2 is wrong because 'teeths' is not a word. Option 3 is wrong because 'want to' needs a verb, not a noun phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pearly white teeth”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.