Yomi のどからてがでるほど Rōmaji nodo kara te ga deru hodo Type idiom Literal Meaning as if a hand comes out of one’s throat Meaning (want) badly/desperately Synonym どうしようもなく, 切に Additional Info It’s used when one wants something badly. Example このコートが喉から手が出るほど欲しい I want this coat badly.Read More

Yomi ところがどっこい Rōmaji tokoroga dokkoi Type idiom Meaning but Synonym ところが, しかし Antonym したがって, それゆえ, だから Additional Info It is an exaggerated expression for ところが (“but”). It’s often used humorously when one tells a story that is surprising and contrasts with common sense. Example この映画、作り話だと思うでしょ？ところがどっこい、実話なんです You think this movie is fiction, right? BUT, it’s actually non-fictionRead More

Yomi めとはなのさき Rōmaji me to hana no saki Type idiom Literal Meaning An eye and nasal tip Meaning a very short distance, a stone’s throw Synonym すぐそこ Additional Info Originally, it is said to allude to the narrow gap between an eye (目) and the nasal tip (鼻の先). However, some people would probably interpret this idiom as “目と鼻” (“eye and nose”) + の先 (“ahead of”) and think it would indicate something that is right before one’s face. Either way, it describes something that is very close to you. Example このホテルの目と鼻の先に駅がある The station is just a stone’s throw from this hotelRead More

Yomi ちこくま Rōmaji chikoku ma Type idiom Meaning A person who always comes late Additional Info 遅刻 (ちこく) means “to come late”. The suffix 魔 (ま) is used in a few words to describe a bad person, such as 悪魔 (あくま) meaning “a devil”; サボり魔 meaning “a habitual slacker”; 通(とお)り魔 meaning “a person who randomly attacks pedestrians on a street”; and キス魔 meaning “a person who loves kissing anytime (and often anyone)”. Example 彼は遅刻魔だから、明日のテストに遅刻しても驚かない Because he always comes late, I won’t be surprised even if he comes late for the exam tomorrow.Read More