蛇足 (dassoku)
Meaning: Something completely unnecessary; a superfluous addition.
Language: Japanese
Literally: Snake legs
Category: Animals
Origin: From an ancient Chinese fable about a man who lost a contest by drawing legs on a snake.
More idioms — Animals
- 猫に小判 (Neko ni koban) — Giving something valuable to someone who can't appreciate it.
- Estar en la edad del pavo — To be at an awkward teenage phase.
- Estar como una cabra — To be completely crazy.
- Meter la pata — To make a blunder or put your foot in it.
- In bocca al lupo — Good luck! (replied with 'Crepi!' — may it die).
- Chi dorme non piglia pesci — You snooze, you lose.
More Japanese idioms
- 杞憂 (Kiyū) — Unnecessary worry about things that won't happen; baseless anxiety.
- 傍若無人 (Bōjaku-bujin) — Behaving without regard for others' feelings or presence around you.
- 一期一会 (Ichi-go ichi-e) — Treasure each encounter as unique and irreplaceable in life.
- 四面楚歌 (Shimensoka) — Being surrounded by enemies with no hope of escape or support.
- 鯖を読む (Saba o yomu) — To fudge the numbers in your favor, especially your age.
- 油を売る (Abura ouru) — To slack off or dawdle when you should be working.
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