What is another word for kicking the teeth?
Pronunciation: [kˈɪkɪŋ ðə tˈiːθ] (IPA) 
"Kicking the teeth" is a phrase that usually denotes severe defeat, failure, or humiliation. However, there are several other phrases that you can use instead of "kicking the teeth" to express the same feeling. These include "knocked down a peg," "taken to the cleaners," "knocked the wind out of one's sails," and "brought down a notch." These are all idiomatic expressions that convey the idea of one's confidence or morale having taken a serious hit. In short, they all mean that the person has suffered a significant setback or lost a major battle.
