揉もみ消けす

も

み

け

す

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

stub out; crush out; smother (a fire)

Literally to extinguish by rubbing or crumpling, as with a cigarette or a small flame.

彼かれは灰はい皿ざらにタバコをもみ消けした。
He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
火ひのついたマッチをもみ消けす。
Crush out a lit match.

2

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

hush up; cover up; suppress

Figurative use: to suppress or cover up a scandal, rumor, or inconvenient truth, often by applying pressure or manipulation.

会かい社しゃは不ふ祥しょう事じをもみ消けそうとした。
The company tried to hush up the scandal.
彼かれはその噂うわさをもみ消けすために金かねを払はらった。
He paid money to suppress the rumor.

Written forms

揉もみ消けすUsage34%
Standard kanji spelling using 揉む (to rub, crumple) and 消す (to extinguish).
もみ消けすUsage61%
Common mixed kana-kanji spelling.
もみけすUsage4%
揉もみ消けす
Abbreviated kanji form; less common.

Kanji

消extinguish, blow out, turn off
揉rub, massage, shampoo

Similar words

消けす
消す is the general verb for extinguishing or turning off; 揉み消す specifically adds the nuance of rubbing or crumpling to extinguish, and is also used figuratively for covering up information.
揉もむ
揉む means to rub, crumple, or massage; 揉み消す combines this with 消す to express extinguishing by rubbing or crushing.

Etymology

Compound of 揉み (continuative form of 揉む 'to rub, crumple') + 消す 'to extinguish'. The figurative sense of covering up a scandal derives from the image of rubbing out or crushing something until it disappears.