Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
お預けを食う (おあずけをくう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-u)
be kept waiting ; have one's hopes postponed
Idiomatic expression derived from the image of a dog being told to wait before eating. Used when a desired outcome or reward is delayed, often by someone else's decision.
け
を
食く
っ
た
気き
分ぶん
だ
。
My date canceled at the last minute, so I feel like I've been left hanging.
Written forms お 預あず けを 食く う
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling.
御お 預あず けを 食く う
Formal or dated spelling using 御 for the honorific prefix.
Kanji 預 deposit, custody, leave with 御 honorable, manipulate, govern Similar words お 預あず け The noun form meaning 'postponement' or 'being kept waiting'. お預けを食う is the verb phrase meaning 'to suffer a postponement'.
待ま たされる A general verb meaning 'to be made to wait'. お預けを食う carries a stronger nuance of having one's hopes or expectations deliberately delayed, often with a sense of frustration.
Etymology From お預け (honorific prefix + 'keeping in custody') + を + 食う ('to eat', here in the sense of 'to suffer'). The phrase originates from the image of a dog being told to wait before eating, extending to mean having a desired outcome postponed.
