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Proverbs & idioms
462 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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手が離れる
てがはなれる
to become independent
手ぐすね引く
てぐすねひく
to be ready and waiting; to be on the alert; to be on the watch
手につかない
てにつかない
unable to focus on ... (due to being preoccupied with something else); unable to concentrate on ...; unable to settle down to ...
手に乗る
てにのる
to fall for a trick; to be taken in; to play into the hands (of)
手に汗を握る
てにあせをにぎる
to sit on the edge of one's seat; to be in breathless suspense
手に汗握る
てにあせにぎる
to sit on the edge of one's seat; to be in breathless suspense
手のかかる
てのかかる
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troublesome; difficult (e.g. customer, guest, child); laborious (e.g. task, dinner)
手のつけられない
てのつけられない
out of control; out of hand; unmanageable
手のひらを返す
てのひらをかえす
to flip-flop; to do an about-face; to flip over one's hand; to do something easy
手のもの
てのもの
one's speciality; one's forte; one's strong point
手の内を見せる
てのうちをみせる
to reveal one's true intentions; to show one's cards
手の施しようがない
てのほどこしようがない
beyond help; there's nothing that can be done
手の早い
てのはやい
fast (worker); fast in forming relationships with women; quick to resort to violence; quick to turn violent
手の者
てのもの
one's subordinate
手を伸ばす
てをのばす
to try one's hand at (something new)
手を伸べる
てをのべる
to lend a hand; to give a hand; to help; to extend a helping hand
手を借りる
てをかりる
to get (someone's) help; to ask for help
手を出す
てをだす
to get involved in; to embark on; to try one's hand at; to turn one's hand to; to start a fight; to get physical with
手を切る
てをきる
to cut one's connections (with); to break off relations (with); to cut ties (with); to break away (from); to part ways (with); to cease to deal with
手を合わせる
てをあわせる
to compete against someone; to play (a game, match, etc.) against someone
手を変え品を変え
てをかえしなをかえ
by hook or by crook; by all possible means
手を差し伸べる
てをさしのべる
to lend a hand; to give a hand; to help; to extend a helping hand
手を打つ
てをうつ
to take (preventive) measures; to come to an agreement (in bargaining, etc.); to strike a bargain
手を抜く
てをぬく
to cut corners; to be shoddy; to slack off; to go easy (on an opponent); to hold back (in a competition, fight, etc.)
手を挙げる
てをあげる
to surrender; to become better (at something); to improve; to throw one's hat in the ring; to volunteer; to indicate one intends to participate
手を握る
てをにぎる
to join forces (with); to ally oneself (with); to hold hands
手を携えて
てをたずさえて
(acting) together; jointly; cooperatively; in partnership; side by side; holding hands
手を染める
てをそめる
to get involved (with); to begin (with); to have a hand (in)
手を焼く
てをやく
to not know what to do with; to be at a loss with; to have difficulty with; to be put out
手を貸す
てをかす
to lend a hand; to help
手玉に取る
てだまにとる
to lead (someone) by the nose; to twist (someone) around one's little finger
手癖が悪い
てくせがわるい
having a habit of stealing things; being light-fingered
手負い猪
ておいじし
cornered animal; wounded boar
手足となる
てあしとなる
to follow loyally; to wait on someone hand and foot; to be at someone's beck and call
抜け目ない
ぬけめない
shrewd; astute; cunning; alert
指をくわえる
ゆびをくわえる
to look on enviously while doing nothing; to hold a finger in one's mouth
指切りげんまん、嘘ついたら針千本飲ます
ゆびきりげんまん、うそついたらはりせんぼんのます
cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye; pinky promise pledge: if you're lying, I'll make you drink a thousand needles
掌中の珠
しょうちゅうのたま
apple of one's eye; one's jewel
揚げ足を取る
あげあしをとる
to jump on someone's (verbal) mistake; to trip someone up; to find fault with something someone says
揚げ足取る
あげあしとる
to jump on someone's (verbal) mistake; to trip someone up; to find fault with something someone says
救いの手
すくいのて
helping hand; help; support; aid
日向に氷
ひなたにこおり
something disappearing bit by bit; ice in the sun
昔取った杵柄
むかしとったきねづか
skill learned in one's former days; using one's experience from the past
昼行灯
ひるあんどん
dunce; blockhead; inattentive person; (a) lantern at noon
朝に夕べを謀らず
あしたにゆうべをはからず
taking things as they come (because one is too busy to plan ahead); dealing with things without thinking ahead; not planning for the evening in the morning
木で鼻をくくる
きではなをくくる
to be blunt; to be curt
木仏金仏石仏
きぶつかなぶついしぼとけ
inflexible people; heartless people; Buddhist images of wood, metal, and stone
本腰を入れる
ほんごしをいれる
to set about in earnest; to make a strenuous effort; to put one's back into (doing)
杓子で腹を切る
しゃくしではらをきる
to do something impossible; to disembowel oneself with a ladle
枕を濡らす
まくらをぬらす
to cry in bed; to cry oneself to sleep; to weep secretly in bed; to moisten one's pillow (with one's tears)