Cut_a_tooth -

: To "pay your dues," "earn your stripes," or "get your start". Cultural and Artistic References

Literally, it refers to the process of , specifically when a baby's tooth first begins to push or "break" through the gum line. cut_a_tooth

: "She cut her journalistic teeth working for a small local newspaper". : To "pay your dues," "earn your stripes,"

: "The baby is crying because she’s cutting her first tooth". Figurative Idiom: "Cut one's teeth on" : To "pay your dues

As an idiom, to something means to gain your first experience or learn basic skills in a particular field, often through a specific project or job. It suggests a foundational period of learning that prepares you for more advanced work.