油をうる。

Abura o uru.

Literal translation: To sell oil.

Figurative meaning: To waste time.

例：彼は油を売ってばかりいる。

Rei: Kare wa abura wo utte bakari iru.

Example: He does nothing but waste time.

 

 

 

 

 

あなたは甘いです。

Anata wa amai desu.

Literal translation: You are sweet.

Figurative meaning: To be naive or shortsighted.

例：すぐに諦めるところがあなたの甘いとこです。

Rei: Sugu ni akirameru tokoro ga anata no amai toko desu.

Example: Giving up way too soon like this, is a very naive thing to do.

 

 

 

 

 

秋茄子は嫁に食わすな。

Aki nasubi wa yome ni kuwasu na.

Literal translation: Don’t let your daughter-in-law eat your autumn eggplants.

Figurative meaning: Don’t let yourself be taken advantage of.

例： 。

Rei:

Example:

 

 

 

 

 

 

覆水盆に帰らず。

Fukusuibon'nikaerazu.

Literal translation: Spilt water will not return to the tray.

Figurative meaning:  It is no use crying over spilt milk. What's done is done.

例： 。

Rei:

Example:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

我田引水。

Gadeninsui.

Literal translation: Pulling water to my own rice paddy.

“Doing or saying things for one’s own benefit.” While totally regionally charged, I feel like dropping this one would give you an air of well-traveled-ness.

Figurative meaning: Seeking one's own interests; straining (the interpretation or argument) to suit one's own interests; drawing water for one's own field.

例： 。

Rei:

Example:

 

 

ごまおする。

Goma o suru.

Literal translation: To grind sesame.

Figurative meaning: To kiss up to someone, to try to please a powerful person to gain profit.

例：大阪の商売人はゴマをする。

Rei: Osaka no shoo bainin wa goma wo suru.

Example: Osaka merchants tend to kiss up to people.

 

花より団子。

Hana yori dango.

Literal translation: Dumplings rather than flowers.

Figurative meaning:  Practical things are more useful than decorative things.

例： 。

Rei:

Example:

 

 

 

 

 

腹立つ。

Hara ga tatsu.

Literal translation: Stomach stands.

Figurative meaning: To get angry or pissed off.

例： 腹立つ。

Rei:

Example: 

 

 

 

 

弱肉強食。

Jakunikukyooshoku.

Literal translation: The weak are meat; the strong eat.

Figurative meaning: The survival of the fittest; the law of the jungle.

例： 。

Rei:

Example:

 

 

 

 

水臭いです。

Mizukusai desu.

Literal translation: You smell like water.

Figurative meaning: You are so distant.

例：— 私との仲でしょ？

         — いいえ、水くさいなー !

Rei: — Watashi to no nakadesho?

        — Ie, mizu kusai na!

Example: — Aren't we getting along?

                 — No, you are so distant!

 

 

 

 

猫舌。

Nekojita.

Literal translation: Cat tongue.

Figurative meaning: To need to wait until hot food cools to eat it

例：— 猫舌？

         — はい、待ちましょう！

Rei: — Nekojita?

        — Hai, machimashou!

Example: — The food is really hot?

                 — Yes, let's wait a bit!

 

 

 

 

さじおなげる。

Saji o nageru.

Literal translation: To throw away a spoon.

Figurative meaning: To give up, to throw in the towel.

例：漢字を覚えるのが難しすぎてさじを投げた。

Rei: Kanji wo oboeru no ga muzukashi sugite saji o nageta.

Example:  Memorising Kanji was too difficult, so I literally gave up.

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酔生夢死。

Suiseimushi.

Literal translation: Drunken life, dreamy death.

Figurative meaning:  To dream one’s life away, spend all one’s time dreaming without accomplishing anything significant.

例： 。

Rei:

Example:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

逃がした魚は大きい。

Nigashita sakana wa ookii.

Literal translation: The escaped fish was the biggest.

Figurative meaning:  Every missed chance seems better than it really was.

例： 。

Rei:

Example: