What it means
Means getting something done is a right slog, especially coaxing answers out of someone who’s clammed up. Every bit of info comes out slow and painful, as if you’re yanking a tooth with your bare hands. Works for awkward chats, stubborn kids, or that mate who only gives you a grunt and a shrug.
Usage examples
"Getting Dave to admit he nicked the last Jaffa Cake was like pulling teeth. I asked three times and got nothing but shrugs."
"Getting the teenager to say how school went is like pulling teeth, all grunts and shrugs."
Where it comes from
The picture is plain dentistry of the painful sort, back when wrenching out a tooth meant brute force and gritted jaws. Getting a straight answer or shifting a stubborn task feels the same, slow and wince-inducing, which is exactly why the comparison sticks.
Other ways to say it
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