かさにかかる

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ru)

act highhandedly; be arrogant; be overbearing

usually written using kana alone

Describes someone acting in a domineering or arrogant manner, often taking advantage of a position or situation. The expression is a set phrase.

彼かれは上じょう司しになった途と端たん、かさにかかって命めい令れいするようになった。
As soon as he became the boss, he started giving orders in a highhanded way.

あの政せい治じ家かはかさにかかった態たい度どで質しつ問もんを無む視しした。

That politician ignored the questions with an arrogant attitude.

Written forms

嵩かさにかかる
Kanji spelling using 嵩 (bulk, volume); rarely used in modern writing.
嵩かさに懸かかる
Variant with 懸かる; very rare.
笠かさにかかる
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage with 笠 (bamboo hat); not standard.
笠かさに懸かかる
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage with 笠 and 懸かる; not standard.

Kanji

嵩be aggravated, grow worse, grow bulky
懸state of suspension, hang, depend
笠bamboo hat, one's influence

Similar words

横おう柄へい
横柄 is an adjective meaning 'arrogant' or 'haughty' as a personality trait, while かさにかかる describes the action or manner of behaving arrogantly.
威い張ばる
威張る means 'to be bossy' or 'to throw one's weight around'; かさにかかる is a more idiomatic and emphatic expression for acting overbearingly.

Etymology

The phrase likely derives from 嵩 (かさ, bulk, volume) and かかる (to lean on, to depend on), suggesting the idea of 'relying on one's bulk or status' to act arrogantly. The exact origin is uncertain.