Literally, it refers to the process of , specifically when a baby's tooth first begins to push or "break" through the gum line.
: "She cut her journalistic teeth working for a small local newspaper". cut_a_tooth
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. Literally, it refers to the process of ,
The phrase (or "cut one's teeth" ) has both a literal and a figurative meaning. Literal Meaning it refers to the process of