Proverbs & idioms

Japanese proverbs (ことわざ), four-character idioms (四字熟語), and idioms — from JMdict.

• 水をあけるみずをあけるto open up a lead (over one's opponent)
• 水をかけるみずをかけるto hinder; to hamper; to stifle; to throw cold water on
• 水を向けるみずをむけるto try and draw someone out; to fish for information
• 水を差すみずをさすto hinder; to hamper; to throw cold water on; to put a damper on; to estrange (people)
• 水を得た魚みずをえたうおsomeone who is in their element; fish that has found water
• 水母の骨くらげのほねsomething that one would not expect to exist; something exceedingly rare; jellyfish bones
• 水泡に帰すすいほうにきすto come to naught