Old English toðleas, in the literal sense; see tooth + -less. Figurative sense of "dull" is recorded from 1590s; that of "lacking enforcement powers" is first recorded 1961. Related: Toothlessly; toothlessness.
双语例句
1. In his view, the Commission remains a toothless and ineffectual body.
在他看来，委员会仍然是一个没有实权、不起作用的机构。
来自柯林斯例句
2. a toothless old man
没牙的老头
来自《权威词典》
3. When she slipped the bit into his mouth, she saw that he was practically toothless.
思嘉套车时也畏畏缩缩不敢碰它. 当她把嚼口塞进马嘴里, 才发现原来马根本没牙了.
来自飘（部分）
4. Deflation are long bone, and a vicious inflation is a toothless tiger.
通缩是化骨龙, 恶性通胀则是无牙老虎.
来自互联网
5. The second complaint is that the oath's fine words are toothless.
