焼け跡の釘拾い
Japanese
Kanji in this term | |||
---|---|---|---|
焼 | 跡 | 釘 | 拾 |
や Grade: 4 | あと Grade: S | くぎ Jinmeiyō | ひろ Grade: 3 |
kun’yomi |
Etymology
焼け跡 (“ruins of fire”) + の + 釘 (“nail”) + 拾い (“to pick up”). Literally: to pick up nails after a fire.
Idiom
焼け跡の釘拾い • (yakeato no kugihiroi)
- to try to save a little only to lose a lot; to spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar; to be penny wise and pound foolish