Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
喉から手が出る (のどからてがでる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
want something so badly one can almost taste it
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression used with ～ほど or ～くらい to emphasize intense desire. Literally 'a hand reaches out from one's throat', evoking the image of desperately grasping for something.
は
その
仕し
事ごと
を
喉のど
から
手て
が
出で
る
くらい
欲ほ
し
がっ
て
いる
。
He wants that job so much he can practically feel it.
Written forms 喉のど から 手て が 出で る
Standard kanji spelling for the idiom.
のどから 手て が 出で る
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, common in casual writing.
Similar words 欲ほ しくてたまらない A more straightforward expression for 'wanting something unbearably', without the vivid imagery of 喉から手が出る.
喉のど から 手て が 出で そう A variant using そう instead of 出る, meaning 'looks like a hand is about to come out of one's throat', also expressing strong desire.
Etymology The idiom literally means 'a hand comes out of one's throat', figuratively depicting an intense craving so strong that one feels a hand reaching out from inside to grab the desired object. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a well-established Japanese expression.
