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猫の額

Meaning: A very small space, especially of land.

Language: Japanese

Literally: A cat's forehead

Category: Animals

Origin: A cat's brow is tiny and narrow; Japanese speakers have long used it to describe a cramped garden or plot.

More idioms — Animals

  • Водить за нос — To deceive or string someone along.
  • Nem que a vaca tussa — No way; under no circumstances.
  • 亡羊补牢 — It's not too late to act after a setback to prevent further loss.
  • Passer du coq à l'âne — To switch topics abruptly and illogically.
  • To bury your head in the sand — To refuse to face an obvious danger.
  • Die Kuh vom Eis holen — To resolve a precarious situation.

More Japanese idioms

  • 腹が黒い — Scheming and malicious behind a friendly face.
  • お茶を濁す — To dodge a question with a vague, evasive answer.
  • 朝飯前 — A task so easy it can be done before eating.
  • 二階から目薬 — A roundabout effort that has no real effect.
  • 喉から手が出る — To want something so badly you can hardly bear it.
  • 棚から牡丹餅 — An unexpected stroke of good luck.

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