呑のんでかかる

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ru)

make light of; underestimate; take lightly

Expresses a dismissive or overconfident attitude toward a person, task, or situation, often implying that one is not taking it seriously enough. Used in contexts like sports, competition, or challenges.

相あい手てを呑のんでかかると痛いたい目めにあう。
If you make light of your opponent, you'll get hurt.
彼かれ

は

試し

験けん

を

呑の

ん

で

かかっ

て

失しっ

敗ぱい

し

た

。

He took the exam lightly and failed.

2

expression, godan verb (-ru)

overwhelm; dominate; swallow up

Describes a forceful, aggressive approach where one overwhelms an opponent or obstacle, often with confidence or momentum. Common in sports, debates, or confrontations.

彼かれは最さい初しょから呑のんでかかるような勢いきおいで攻せめた。
He attacked with such force from the start, as if to overwhelm his opponent.
強きょう豪ごうチームを呑のんでかかるつもりで戦たたかった。
We fought with the intention of overwhelming the strong team.

Written forms

呑のんでかかる
Standard kanji spelling using 呑む (to swallow/drink) and かかる (to go at).
呑のんで掛かかる
Variant with 掛かる; less common but attested.

Kanji

呑drink
掛hang, suspend, depend

Similar words

舐なめてかかる
Similar meaning of underestimating or looking down on someone, but 舐める has a stronger nuance of contempt or disrespect, while 呑んでかかる can also imply a bold, overwhelming attitude.
軽かるく見みる
Means 'to take lightly' or 'underestimate', but is a more general and less idiomatic expression than 呑んでかかる, which carries a sense of going at something with overconfidence.

Etymology

Compound of 呑む (to swallow, drink) in its continuative form 呑んで and かかる (to go at, attack). The image is of swallowing something whole, suggesting either treating it as easy to consume (underestimate) or engulfing it (overwhelm). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is idiomatic in modern Japanese.