a kick in the teeth
US /ə kɪk ɪn ðə tiːθ/
UK /ə kɪk ɪn ðə tiːθ/
1.
an act of betrayal or a severe disappointment
:
•
Losing the promotion after all that hard work was a kick in the teeth.
•
His sudden resignation was a kick in the teeth for the whole team.