tener el colmillo retorcido
I learned this expression lately and have been looking at some forums to make sure I understand it. It seems that it can have a slightly negative connotation: being sly, crafty, canny or deceiving. There is also the (similar) meaning, however, of being older and/or more experienced and therefore "hardened" against trickery and difficult to decieve.
Do I have that about right? Any additions, corrections or insights welcomed!
2 Answers
"Colmillo" is a common idiom in many places used to mean "craftiness", "wiliness", or "experience".
I am not familiar with "colmillo retorcido", but given my understanding of "colmillo", I'd say you probably understood it correctly.
My good friend Inocencio (we call him Chencho) 
adds more to this subject... when you are talking with others and it seems someone is attempting to pull the wool over your eyes, you make a motion with your hand and clearly point to your eye tooth (canine) with one of your fingers, thereby indicating you are on to him/her, that you're not that gullible or naive [hence old(er) and therefore experienced]... and it was my understanding you don't have to say nary a word... the act of pointing to that tooth speaks volumes!
I am guessing that is where we got the saying: Long in the tooth!
