phrasal
1. : in or into direct contact or collision with : so as directly to confront or be confronted with
headed north in the teeth of the steadily rising gale — N.R.Raine
in the teeth of conditions to drive a normal actor crazy — Kenneth Tynan
2. : in direct opposition to : in defiance of
to express such views was to fly in the teeth of the age — Roy Lewis & Angus Maude