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Proverbs & idioms
592 entries
Japanese proverbs (ことわざ), four-character idioms (四字熟語), and idioms — from JMdict.
Proverbs
Four-character idioms
Idioms
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背筋が寒くなる
せすじがさむくなる
to feel a chill run down one's spine
胡坐をかく
あぐらをかく
to rest on one's laurels; to be self-complacent
胸に刺さる
むねにささる
to be hurtful; to resonate emotionally (with one)
胸に突き刺さる
むねにつきささる
to resonate emotionally (with one); to strike home (words, etc.)
胸を躍らせる
むねをおどらせる
to get excited; to make one's heart leap; to make one's heart pound
脇が甘い
わきがあまい
having weak defenses; off one's guard; vulnerable (to attack)
脛を齧る
すねをかじる
to depend on someone else's (financial) support (usu. one's parents'); to gnaw on (someone's) shin
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脳みそを絞る
のうみそをしぼる
to rack one's brains
脳内お花畑
のうないおはなばたけ
happy-go-lucky person; dreamer; someone with their head in the clouds; flower garden inside the brain
腕が鳴る
うでがなる
to be itching to put one's skills to use
腕に覚えがある
うでにおぼえがある
to have confidence in one's own abilities
腕を振るう
うでをふるう
to exercise one's talent; to display one's ability
腕を買われる
うでをかわれる
to have one's ability acknowledged by others; to be appreciated for one's skill
腰を上げる
こしをあげる
to (finally) start to do something; to get off one's backside; to take action
腹の虫が鳴く
はらのむしがなく
one's stomach rumbles; one's stomach growls
腹の虫が鳴る
はらのむしがなる
one's stomach rumbles; one's stomach growls
腹をくくる
はらをくくる
to prepare oneself for the worst; to strengthen one's resolve; to accept one's fate; to prepare oneself
腹を切る
はらをきる
to take responsibility (and resign); to laugh until one splits one's side
腹を割る
はらをわる
to be frank; to drop all pretense
腹を据える
はらをすえる
to make up one's mind; to calm oneself; to be patient; to endure
腹鼓を打つ
はらつづみをうつ
to eat to one's heart's content; to drum one's belly
膝が笑う
ひざがわらう
to have one's knees be about to give way
膝を屈する
ひざをくっする
to surrender; to give in; to yield; to submit; to bend one's knee
膳立て
ぜんだて
setting up; getting one's ducks in a row; running interference; setting the stage
臍を噛む
ほぞをかむ
to regret bitterly; to be very sorry (for); to bite one's navel
自分のことは棚に上げる
じぶんのことはたなにあげる
to ignore one's own shortcomings; to shut one's eyes to one's own faults; to act hypocritically
自分のことを棚に上げる
じぶんのことをたなにあげる
to ignore one's own shortcomings; to shut one's eyes to one's own faults; to act hypocritically
自分の首を絞める
じぶんのくびをしめる
to cut one's own throat; to dig one's own grave; to cause oneself harm; to bring ruin on oneself
自腹を切る
じばらをきる
to pay with one's own money; to pay out of one's own pocket
芋の子を洗うよう
いものこをあらうよう
with people jostling against one another; teeming; heaving; jam-packed
芋を洗うよう
いもをあらうよう
with people jostling against one another; teeming; heaving; jam-packed
花を持たせる
はなをもたせる
to let (someone) have the credit (for); to let (someone) hold the flowers
草木も眠る丑三つ時
くさきもねむるうしみつどき
dead of night (when even the trees and plants sleep)
蓋をする
ふたをする
to conceal an inconvenient truth; to pretend to not see something troublesome
蔵入り
くらいり
being shelved (of a movie, project, etc.); being postponed; being put on hold; being withheld from publication
薪を抱いて火を救う
たきぎをいだいてひをすくう
having one's good intentions backfire dangerously; causing harm when trying to prevent it; trying to put out a fire while carrying kindling
薬が効きすぎる
くすりがききすぎる
to work too well (of a punishment, reprimand, etc.); to be too much (for someone); to have a stronger effect than intended
薮蛇になる
やぶへびになる
to only make work for oneself; to stir up a hornet's nest; to put one's foot in one's mouth
虎の威を借る狐
とらのいをかるきつね
small person acting arrogantly on someone else's authority; person who borrows the authority of another to browbeat others; a fox that borrows the authority of a tiger
虎の子
とらのこ
one's treasure; precious savings
虫の知らせ
むしのしらせ
feeling in one's bones; foreboding; premonition; presentiment; gut feeling; gut instinct
虫も殺さぬ
むしもころさぬ
innocent-looking; looking as though one wouldn't hurt a fly; looking as though butter would not melt in one's mouth
虻蜂取らず
あぶはちとらず
attempting two tasks at the same time, accomplishing neither; falling between two stools; catching neither the horsefly nor the bee
血が流れる
ちがながれる
to have the blood of ... running in one's veins (artist, warrior, etc.); to be born with particular skills, characteristics, etc.; to have something "in one's blood"
血で血を洗う
ちでちをあらう
to engage in a bloody feud; to have a family quarrel; to quarrel with one's own flesh and blood; to wash blood for blood
血も涙もない
ちもなみだもない
cold-blooded; unfeeling; heartless; heart of stone; inconsiderate
裸の付き合い
はだかのつきあい
completely honest relationship
裸足で逃げる
はだしでにげる
to be put to shame (of an expert); to be no match (for someone); to run away barefoot
裸足で逃げ出す
はだしでにげだす
to be put to shame (of an expert); to be no match (for someone); to run away barefoot
襟を正す
えりをただす
to straighten oneself; to straighten one's clothes and one's posture; to adopt a more serious attitude