N1 Lesson 70 of 73 · 17 words
慣用表現 I
Set Phrases I
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1
気が置けないきがおけない
relaxed to be with; needing no reserve気置
Example & memory tip
気が置けない友人と過ごした。
I spent time with a friend I can be completely relaxed with.
Usage Relaxed, needing no reserve. NOTE: many take it to mean untrustworthy, which is the exact opposite. A classic trap.
Remember it 気 (reserve) + 置けない (need not be placed) → no guard has to be set up between you.
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2
気に留めるきにとめる
to take note of; to pay heed気留
Example & memory tip
誰も気に留めていなかった。
Nobody had taken any notice of it.
Usage Taking note of something. Used when asking someone to notice a small detail. Often negative: 気に留めない, paying it no mind. Lighter than 気にする.
Remember it 気 (attention) + 留める (keep) → keeping it in mind rather than letting it go past.
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3
釘を刺すくぎをさす
to warn in advance; to nail down釘刺
Example & memory tip
遅れないよう釘を刺しておいた。
I warned them in advance not to be late.
Usage Warning someone beforehand so they cannot later forget or deny it. Mildly cautionary.
Remember it 釘 (nail) + 刺す (drive in) → driving a nail in to stop the joint working loose later.
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4
口を挟むくちをはさむ
to butt into a conversation口挟
Example & memory tip
人の話に口を挟むな。
Do not butt into other people's conversations.
Usage Interrupting a conversation that is not your business. Critical in tone.
Remember it 口 (mouth) + 挟む (insert) → wedging your mouth in between two other people's.
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5
拍車をかけるはくしゃをかける
to spur on; to accelerate拍車
Example & memory tip
円安が値上がりに拍車をかけた。
The weak yen accelerated the rise in prices.
Usage Speeding up a trend that is ALREADY under way. It always takes に.
Remember it 拍車 (spur) + かける (apply) → the spur put to a horse that is already galloping.
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6
歯が立たないはがたたない
to be no match for歯立
Example & memory tip
相手が強すぎて歯が立たなかった。
The opponent was too strong and we were no match.
Usage Being hopelessly outmatched. It is ALWAYS in this negative form.
Remember it 歯 (teeth) + 立たない (cannot get in) → so hard that your teeth cannot get into it.
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7
腹を割るはらをわる
to talk frankly; to open up腹割
Example & memory tip
腹を割って話し合おう。
Let us talk frankly.
Usage Speaking with nothing held back. It usually goes with 話す.
Remember it 腹 (belly) + 割る (split open) → splitting the belly open so everything inside can be seen.
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8
骨が折れるほねがおれる
to be hard work; laborious骨折
Example & memory tip
資料集めは骨が折れる作業だ。
Gathering the material is laborious work.
Usage Being hard work. It means demanding effort, not danger. The transitive 骨を折る means taking pains on someone's behalf.
Remember it 骨 (bones) + 折れる (break) → work hard enough to break your bones.
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9
水を差すみずをさす
to throw cold water on水差
Example & memory tip
盛り上がったところに水を差された。
Just as things were going well, someone spoiled the mood.
Usage Dampening an atmosphere or a momentum that was building. Critical in tone.
Remember it 水 (water) + 差す (pour in) → cold water poured into what was coming nicely to the boil.
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10
目を通すめをとおす
to look over; to skim目通
Example & memory tip
契約書に目を通してください。
Please look over the contract.
Usage Skimming to get the gist, NOT reading closely. Distinct from 熟読, reading word by word.
Remember it 目 (eye) + 通す (pass through) → running the eye through the pages rather than over each word.
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11
後を絶たないあとをたたない
to never cease; to keep occurring後絶
Example & memory tip
同じような被害が後を絶たない。
Cases of the same kind keep occurring.
Usage Never ceasing. The subject is always something BAD recurring. It is ALWAYS in this negative form.
Remember it 後 (what follows) + 絶たない (does not break off) → the next one never quite detaches from the last.
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12
熱を上げるねつをあげる
to be crazy about熱上
Example & memory tip
息子はゲームに熱を上げている。
My son is mad about video games.
Usage Being besotted with something, usually more than is good for one. It always takes に.
Remember it 熱 (temperature) + 上げる (raise) → running a fever over it.
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13
念を押すねんをおす
to make doubly sure念押
Example & memory tip
日時をもう一度念を押した。
I confirmed the date and time once more.
Usage Making doubly sure of something already said. Close to 釘を刺す, but gentler and not a warning.
Remember it 念 (the thought) + 押す (press) → pressing the point in so it will stay.
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14
非の打ち所がないひのうちどころがない
flawless; beyond reproach非打所
Example & memory tip
非の打ち所がない仕事ぶりだ。
His work is beyond reproach.
Usage Flawless. The highest praise for something perfectly done. It is ALWAYS in this negative form.
Remember it 非 (fault) + 打ち所 (a place to strike) + ない → nowhere left to land a blow of criticism.
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15
見る影もないみるかげもない
a shadow of one's former self見影
Example & memory tip
昔の面影はなく見る影もない。
Nothing of the old look remains — it is a shadow of itself.
Usage Reduced beyond recognition from what it was. Used of people and of places. ALWAYS negative in form.
Remember it 見る影 (a shadow to look at) + ない → not even a shadow of it left to look at.
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16
元も子もないもともこもない
to lose everything; all for nothing元子
Example & memory tip
体を壊しては元も子もない。
If you ruin your health, it is all for nothing.
Usage Losing everything. Used to warn that overdoing it will cost you the lot. ALWAYS negative in form.
Remember it 元 (the principal) + 子 (the interest) + ない → the interest gone, and the capital with it.
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17
横槍を入れるよこやりをいれる
to interfere; to butt in横槍入
Example & memory tip
途中で横槍を入れられた。
Somebody interfered partway through.
Usage An outsider cutting in and disrupting things. Critical in tone.
Remember it 横 (from the side) + 槍 (spear) + 入れる (thrust in) → a spear thrust in from the flank of a battle already joined.