JLPT N1Idioms
二の足を踏む
- Meaning
- 決断できずに思い切れない
- Explanation
- 「二の足を踏む」 means to hesitate without being able to commit, wavering over a decision or action. From the image of taking the first step but stepping in place on the second, it is used when one wavers and hesitates. c2 「同じ過ちを繰り返す」 is a confusion with 「二の舞を演じる」, which is a different idiom, so be careful.
Original Japanese explanation
「二の足を踏む」は思い切れずにためらい、決断や実行をためらうこと。一歩目は踏み出したが二歩目で足踏みする様子から、迷ってためらう場面で使う。c2「同じ過ちを繰り返す」は「二の舞を演じる」との混同であり、別の慣用句なので注意。
Quick check
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