JLPT N1Idioms
暖簾に腕押し
- Meaning
- 手応えがなく張り合いがない
- Explanation
- 「暖簾 (のれん) に腕押し」 is a metaphor for there being no response and no sense of satisfaction. From the fact that pushing a noren returns no force, it is used for an opponent or situation that reacts weakly no matter how much you act on it. It is synonymous with 「糠に釘」 and 「豆腐に鎹 (かすがい)」. It is the exact opposite of c2 "to force down by power."
Original Japanese explanation
「暖簾(のれん)に腕押し」は手応えがなく張り合いがないことのたとえ。のれんを押しても力が返ってこないことから、いくら働きかけても反応が薄い相手や状況に使う。「糠に釘」「豆腐に鎹(かすがい)」と同義。c2「力でねじ伏せる」とは正反対の状況である。
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