木乃伊取りが木乃伊になる

木乃伊取りが木乃伊になる

Japanese

Kanji in this term
木	乃	伊	取	木	乃	伊
みいら			と Grade: 3	みいら
Grade: 1	Jinmeiyō	Jinmeiyō		Grade: 1	Jinmeiyō	Jinmeiyō
jukujikun			kun’yomi	jukujikun

Alternative forms

• ミイラ取りがミイラになる, ミイラとりがミイラになる
• (shortened) 木乃伊取りが木乃伊に, ミイラ取りがミイラに, ミイラとりがミイラに (​mīra-tori ga mīra ni)

Etymology

Literally “The mummy-taker becomes the mummy.” Attestable to at least 1881, when this expression was used in a kabuki play by Kawatake Mokuami.[1]

Pronunciation

• (Irregular reading)
• IPA^(key): [mʲiːɾa̠ to̞ɾʲi ɡa̠ mʲiːɾa̠ ɲ̟i na̠ɾɯ̟ᵝ]

Phrase

木乃伊取(ミイラと)りが木乃伊(ミイラ)になる • (mīra-tori ga mīra ni naru) 

1. the searcher becomes the searched
2. the preacher becomes the converted

References

1. 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan