三さん文もん芝しば居い

noun

cheap, low-quality play; worthless performance

Refers to a theatrical performance of such poor quality that it is not worth the admission fee. Often used figuratively.

• あの劇げき団だんの公こう演えんはまるで三さん文もん芝しば居いだった。

  That theater company's performance was like a cheap, worthless play.

noun

transparent act; see-through scheming

Describes a pretense or scheme so obvious that it fools no one, like a badly acted play.

• 彼かれの謝しゃ罪ざいは三さん文もん芝しば居いにしか見みえなかった。

  His apology looked like nothing more than a transparent act.