An idiom meaning one cannot compete with or make a dent against someone or something; completely outmatched or unable to cope.
あのチームとは実力が違いすぎて、うちのチームは歯が立たない。
Our team is no match for that team — they're far stronger than us.
新しいアルゴリズムには歯が立たず、既存の手法では勝てなかった。
We couldn't compete with the new algorithm; the existing methods couldn't win.
古いパソコンでは最新のゲームに歯が立たない。
An old PC can't handle the latest games.
Hard to chew; too tough for the teeth to bite through.
このステーキは焼きすぎで固く、年寄りには歯が立たない。
This steak is overcooked and tough — elderly people can't chew it.
硬い煎餅を丸ごと食べようとして歯が立たなかった。
I tried to eat the hard rice cracker whole but couldn't bite through it.