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1355 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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小耳に挟む
こみみにはさむ
to happen to hear; to overhear
小虎
ことら
light drinker; occasional drinker
小首を傾ける
こくびをかたむける
to look slightly doubtful; to look puzzled; to bend one's head slightly to one side
小首を傾げる
こくびをかしげる
to look slightly doubtful; to look puzzled; to bend one's head slightly to one side
小鼻をうごめかす
こばなをうごめかす
to put on a triumphant air
小鼻を膨らます
こばなをふくらます
to look displeased; to flare one's nostrils
尻に帆かける
しりにほかける
to beat a hasty retreat; to turn tail and run away; to take to one's heels
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尻に帆をかける
しりにほをかける
to beat a hasty retreat; to turn tail and run away; to take to one's heels
尻に火がつく
しりにひがつく
to be pressed (by urgent business); to be under great pressure (to act); to be under the gun
尻の毛まで抜かれる
けつのけまでぬかれる
to get ripped off for every last penny
尻をたたく
しりをたたく
to encourage to do (something); to urge a person on; to demand action
尻を持つ
けつをもつ
to take responsibility for; to take the blame for
尻尾を巻く
しっぽをまく
to tuck one's tail between one's legs; to admit defeat; to turn tail (and run)
尻尾を振る
しっぽをふる
to flatter; to butter up; to fawn (on)
尻尾を掴む
しっぽをつかむ
to have something on someone; to catch someone out; to trip someone up; to find someone's fault; to get evidence on someone; to get a lead on someone
尻毛を抜く
しりげをぬく
to take someone by surprise; to startle someone; to pull (someone's) buttock hair
尻重
しりおも
slowcoach; lazybones; slowpoke
尻馬に乗る
しりうまにのる
to follow suit; to imitate or follow someone blindly; to ride on someone's back; to ride someone's coattails; to take advantage (e.g. of another's popularity)
尾ひれがつく
おひれがつく
to become exaggerated (of rumours, etc.); to become embellished
尾ひれをつける
おひれをつける
to exaggerate; to embellish (a story, rumor, etc.)
屁でもない
へでもない
of no concern; nothing; trivial; not even a fart
屁とも思わない
へともおもわない
not give a damn; not care a bit
屁の河童
へのかっぱ
something easy to do; cinch
屁の突っ張りにもならない
へのつっぱりにもならない
of no use whatsoever; good for nothing; useless
屋上屋を架す
おくじょうおくをかす
to do something useless; to gild the lily; to gild refined gold; to build a roof atop the roof
屋烏の愛
おくうのあい
true love; deep love; love for someone so deep that it can reach a crow perched on that person's roof
山あり谷あり
やまありたにあり
(having) ups and downs
山が見える
やまがみえる
to have the end in sight; to see the mountains
山と言えば川
やまといえばかわ
always contradicting what other people say
山をかける
やまをかける
to speculate; to make an educated guess; to gamble (e.g. on getting the right questions)
山を張る
やまをはる
to speculate; to make an educated guess; to gamble (e.g. on getting the right questions)
山を当てる
やまをあてる
to make a lucky hit; to win against the odds; to anticipate correctly
峠を越える
とうげをこえる
to pass the peak (of something); to get through the most difficult part; to be over the worst (e.g. an illness)
峠を越す
とうげをこす
to pass the peak (of something); to get through the most difficult part; to be over the worst (e.g. an illness)
崖端歩き
がけばたあるき
taking unnecessary risks; precipice walking
嵐の前の静けさ
あらしのまえのしずけさ
calm before the storm; lull before the storm
巣立つ
すだつ
to go out into the world; to become independent (of one's parents); to graduate (and become a member of society)
市に虎を放つ
いちにとらをはなつ
to let a fox into the henhouse; to do something dangerous; to let loose a tiger in the marketplace
希望の星
きぼうのほし
ray of light; ray of hope; promising talent
帯に短し襷に長し
おびにみじかしたすきにながし
neither one thing nor the other; too short for a belt, too long for a sleeve tie
帳尻が合う
ちょうじりがあう
to even out; to balance out
幕が切って落とされる
まくがきっておとされる
to begin grandly; to start with a bang; to make a spectacular beginning; to throw open the curtains
年がいもなく
としがいもなく
unbecoming to one's age
年を食う
としをくう
to grow older (than expected); to advance in age
年寄りの冷や水
としよりのひやみず
an old man's indiscretions
年貢の納め時
ねんぐのおさめどき
time to pay the piper; time to pay the land tax (in kind)
年食う
としくう
to grow older (than expected); to advance in age
庇を貸して母屋を取られる
ひさしをかしておもやをとられる
to have one's kindness taken advantage of; give him an inch and he'll take a mile; to lend out the eaves but have one's whole house taken; to have a favor returned with spite
度が過ぎる
どがすぎる
to go too far; to go to excess; to carry too far
度を失う
どをうしなう
to lose one's presence of mind; to lose one's composure; to lose one's head; to get flustered