Poner los dientes largos

to make someone envious; **to make someone envious**; **to make someone jealous**; **to make someone's mouth water**; **to make someone drool over something**; **to make someone long for something**; **to make someone green with envy**

Poner los dientes largos means to make someone crave something, to make someone envious, or to make someone long for something they cannot have or enjoy at that moment.

It is often used when someone shows or describes something desirable to another person, thereby making them want it too.

• shows off a desirable possession
• describes an attractive holiday
• talks enthusiastically about delicious food
• displays something another person would like to have
• makes someone jealous or envious in a relatively light-hearted way

The expression is based on the physical image of teeth becoming elongated as a metaphor for intense desire.

It is related to the appearance of animals when they become excited or aggressive and show their teeth, as well as to older figurative associations between long teeth and strong appetite or desire.

The expression eventually developed its modern figurative meaning: making someone desire something intensely by showing it or talking about it.

The expression can describe either envy or desire, and the distinction depends on context.

For example:

Me pones los dientes largos con ese coche.

usually means:

I really want a car like that.

But:

Me pones los dientes largos hablando de tus vacaciones.

may mean:

You're making me envious by telling me about your holiday.

It is generally a light-hearted expression, rather than a strong accusation of malicious envy.

Spanish has several expressions linking the mouth, teeth and appetite with desire:

• Poner los dientes largos → to make someone crave something.
• Hacérsele la boca agua → to make one's mouth water.
• Estar para chuparse los dedos → to be delicious.
• Comerse con los ojos → to look at something with great desire.
• Morirse de ganas → to be dying to do or have something.

In poner los dientes largos, something desirable is placed psychologically just out of reach, making the desire even stronger.

Do not translate:

Me pones los dientes largos.

literally as:

You make my teeth long.

Natural translations include:

You're making me jealous.

You're making me want one.

You're making my mouth water.

You're making me really envious.