As rare as hens teeth

Posted by ESC April 28, 2009 at 22:35In reply to As rare as hens teeth posted by Zephyr on April 28, 2009 at 21:45:

I've 2 phrases that that I'm curious about in regards to use and origin

Rare as hens teeth... and... For love nor money. Any ideas?

scarcer than hen's teeth -- Hen's don't have teeth. One reference says it is an Americanism that probably goes back to colonial days but was first recorded in 1862. Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997). Page 595.

Replies

As rare as hens teeth ESC 28/April/09
- As rare as hens teeth Victoria S Dennis 30/April/09
  - As rare as hens teeth JohnWW 16/May/09