jaws

jaws — idiom

1. the wide-open mouth of a large and powerful animal, or of a person, especially o

1.idiomB2
Definition

the wide-open mouth of a large and powerful animal, or of a person, especially one that looks frightening or ready to attack

Example

The crocodile dragged the antelope into the water with its jaws clamped shut.

jaws clamped shut — describing the mouth gripping tightly

Kwame watched the lion yawn, its massive jaws opening wide enough to swallow a child's head.

Common collocations
  • massive jaws
  • powerful jaws
  • jaws snap shut
  • jaws clamp down
  • between its jaws
Synonyms
  • mouth

    neutral; lacks the connotation of size or danger

  • maw

    more literary; suggests a deep, cavernous opening

Usage Note

Always plural. Used mainly for animals that can cause harm — sharks, crocodiles, lions, large dogs. For a neutral description of a person's mouth, 'mouth' is preferred.

Common Mistakes

The cat opened its jaw to meow.
The cat opened its mouth to meow.
'jaws' suggests size and danger; a cat's mouth is not normally called its jaws.

2. the two sides of a natural opening in the landscape that come together like a gi

2.idiomC1
Definition

the two sides of a natural opening in the landscape that come together like a giant mouth, such as the entrance to a cave, a tunnel, a deep crack in the ground, or a narrow gorge

Example

Naledi shone her torch into the jaws of the cave, picking out stalactites that hung like teeth from the ceiling.

jaws of the cave — the mouth-like entrance of a cave

As the train entered the tunnel, the dark jaws of the mountain swallowed the first carriage.

Common collocations
  • jaws of the cave
  • jaws of the tunnel
  • jaws of the gorge
  • jaws of the crevasse
  • between the jaws of
Synonyms
  • opening

    more neutral; lacks the vivid two-sided quality

  • entrance

    less dramatic; suggests a doorway rather than a threatening mouth

Usage Note

Always plural. This sense describes natural or geographical openings that look like a giant mouth — cave entrances, tunnels, gorges, crevasses. For the gripping parts of tools and devices (wrenches, vices, pliers), see the noun entry sense 2 (GRIPPING PART OF TOOL).

Common Mistakes

I tightened the jaws of the wrench.' (for a natural opening meaning).
The climbers stood at the jaws of the cave.
sense 2 is for natural openings; for gripping parts of tools, use the noun entry sense 2 (GRIPPING PART OF TOOL).

jaws — noun

jaws — verb

Word family

  • jaw
    nounB1
  • jawbone
    nounC1
  • jawline
    nounB2
  • jawed
    adjectiveC2
  • jaw-dropping
    adjectiveB2
  • jawless
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

The everyday word for this body part is 'jaw' (or 'jaws' in the plural), which any English speaker would use in normal conversation — 'I hurt my jaw.' 'Jawbone' is more informal and concrete: it refers specifically to the bare bony structure rather than the jaw as a whole body region, so a doctor might say 'the X-ray shows a crack in the jawbone.' 'Mandible' and 'maxilla' are technical anatomical terms used by dentists and surgeons: the mandible is the lower jaw, the maxilla the upper. In a dental report you might read 'fracture of the left mandible,' but no one says that at the dinner table. Stick with 'jaw' unless you need the scientific precision.

jawbone ↗mandible ↗maxilla ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • open/close your jaw
  • snap your jaws shut

Prepositions

  • jaws of

Etymology

Gaulish (possible)Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'jaw' entered English in the late 14th century from Old French 'joue' meaning 'cheek'. The French word is of uncertain origin, possibly from a Gaulish root. It gradually replaced the native Old English 'ceafl' (related to German 'Kiefer'). The verb sense — 'to talk at length' — appeared in the early 19th century, evolving from the idea of 'wagging one's jaw' or 'chewing the fat' as metaphors for idle chatter. The plural form 'jaws' developed its own specialised meanings for the gaping mouth of a predator and for any mouth-like opening.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb