へそで茶を沸かす (heso de cha o wakasu) | Meaning/英訳

Definition

へそで茶(ちゃ)を沸(わ)かす (heso de cha o wakasu) literally means ‘I’d make tea using my navel’. If you say this phrase, it figuratively means that you think what someone has said is ludicrous and unrealistic, like making tea using one’s navel.

Usage

It’s usually used as “へそで茶を沸かすわ” when you hear someone saying something ludicrous and scorn and make fun of them.

Example

今いまからサッカー選手せんしゅを目指めざす？へそで茶を沸かすわ！
Do you aim to become a professional soccer player from now? Hah, I’d make tea using my navel! (That’s so funny/ludicrous!)

Related Words

Synonyms

馬鹿(ばか)げている “ridiculous”

噴飯（ふんぱん）もの: “so ludicrous that you spit out drink/food when you hear it”

非現実的 (ひげんじつてき): “unrealistic”

絵(え)に描(か)いた餅(もち): “pie in the sky”

See also:

Japanese Idioms about Mochi: 餅 (もち), Japanese Rice Cake!

Antonyms

現実的 (げんじつてき) “realistic”

Related Post

‘No Tea’ Means ‘Crazy’? Japanese Words/Idioms Related to Tea (茶)

‘No Tea’ Means ‘Crazy’? Japanese Words/Idioms Related to Tea (茶)