From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhave teethhave teethSCLPOWERif a law or an organization has teeth, it has the power to force people to obey it We need an Environment Agency that really has teeth. → tooth
Examples from the Corpus
have teeth• It is important that it should also have teeth.• What can have teeth, of course, even if it is concealed by a friendly smile, is aid.• Because after the Anna Climbie case, the social services wanted to show it does have teeth.• Critics of the law say it has no teeth and will not prevent violent crime.• Frankly, I'd rather have teeth extracted than sit through either again.• Is it only a paper tiger, or does it really have teeth?• The episode illustrates beyond doubt that the majority voting rules of the Treaty of Rome have teeth.• The movement will have teeth to back its arguments. 