1.
to be no match for; to be too hard to deal with
Literally 'one's teeth cannot bite into it': something is too hard, too difficult, or too strong for one to cope with, whether a tough piece of meat, an advanced textbook, or a stronger opponent. Almost always in the negative form.
Literally 'the teeth do not stand', that is, cannot bite in: too hard to chew, extended to anything one cannot cope with. Only the negative is used; 歯が立つ in the affirmative is rare.
Common patterns
Similar words
- 手に負えない: beyond one's control — unmanageable rather than too strong
- かなわない: to be no match for — the plain word; 歯が立たない is stronger and more vivid