General
could eat corn through a picket fence
What does could eat corn through a picket fence mean?
A teasing way to describe someone with big, protruding front teeth.
"He's grinning so wide he could eat corn through a picket fence."
Origin
Southern comedic idiom picturing teeth spaced and jutting like fence pickets.
Frequently asked questions
What does "could eat corn through a picket fence" mean?
It's a teasing way to say someone has big, protruding buck teeth.
Is it an insult?
It's a jokey jab about appearance, usually said in fun rather than as a serious insult.
Where is it from?
It's a Southern U.S. comedic idiom picturing teeth spaced and jutting like fence pickets.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
