鯖を読む (Saba o yomu)
Meaning: To fudge the numbers in your favor, especially your age.
Language: Japanese
Literally: To read the mackerel
Category: Food & Drink
Origin: In Edo-period fish markets mackerel spoiled so fast that traders counted it at full speed — and buyers suspected the count was never honest.
More idioms — Food & Drink
- Enfiar o pé na jaca — To overdo it wildly, especially with food or drink.
- Iets voor een appel en een ei kopen — To get something for next to nothing.
- Een appeltje met iemand te schillen hebben — To have a bone to pick with someone.
- Musztarda po obiedzie — Too late to be of any use.
- Rzucać grochem o ścianę — To plead with someone who will not listen.
- 국수를 먹다 (Guksu-reul meokda) — To attend a wedding — or, asked as a question, when will you marry?
More Japanese idioms
- 油を売る (Abura ouru) — To slack off or dawdle when you should be working.
- 高嶺の花 (Takane no hana) — Someone or something beautiful but utterly out of reach.
- 猫舌 (Nekojita) — Unable to handle hot food or drinks.
- 猫の額 (Neko no hitai) — A very small space, especially of land.
- 腹が黒い (hara ga kuroi) — Scheming and malicious behind a friendly face.
- お茶を濁す (ocha o nigosu) — To dodge a question with a vague, evasive answer.
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