dragon's teeth
Noun (plural in form but often used as a singular or plural noun): - Military fortifications: "dragon's teeth" refers to concrete pyramids or other obstacles placed on the ground to impede the movement of tanks and other armored vehicles. They are typically arranged in rows or fields to create an anti-tank barrier. - Figurative use: The term can also refer to anything that causes conflict or trouble, especially something introduced deliberately to sow discord or create problems.
Military sense:
- The army installed rows of dragon's teeth along the border to prevent enemy tanks from advancing. (Concrete obstacles used as anti-tank defenses.)
- During World War II, the Siegfried Line was heavily fortified with dragon's teeth. (Pyramid-shaped concrete barriers.)
Figurative sense:
- The politician's divisive comments sowed dragon's teeth that led to years of bitter debate. (Introduced seeds of conflict.)
- By spreading false rumors, he planted dragon's teeth among the team members. (Created lasting discord.)
"to sow dragon's teeth": to take an action that leads to future conflict or trouble.
- The company's unfair policies sowed dragon's teeth, resulting in a long and costly strike. (The policies caused ongoing strife.)
"field of dragon's teeth": a large area covered with anti-tank obstacles.
- The defense line consisted of a field of dragon's teeth stretching for miles. (A vast barrier of concrete pyramids.)
- Dragon's tooth (singular): a single concrete pyramid used as an anti-tank obstacle.
- Each dragon's tooth was about three feet tall and made of reinforced concrete. (One individual barrier.)
- Anti-tank obstacle: any barrier designed to stop tanks.
- Concrete pyramid: a specific type of anti-tank obstacle shaped like a pyramid.
- Sow dragon's teeth: to do something that causes future problems or conflict.
- By ignoring the warning signs, the government sowed dragon's teeth for the next generation. (Created long-term difficulties.)
The term originates from the Greek myth of Cadmus, who sowed the teeth of a dragon he killed. From these teeth sprang armed warriors who fought each other. This myth gave rise to the figurative meaning of "dragon's teeth" as something that leads to conflict.