後うしろ指ゆびを指さす

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-su)

talk behind someone's back; backbite

idiomatic expressionrare term

Idiomatic expression meaning to speak ill of someone in their absence. Rare in modern conversation; more common in literary or dramatic contexts.

彼かれはいつも同どう僚りょうの後うしろ指ゆびを指さすようなことを言いう。
He always says things that are like talking behind his colleagues' backs.

後うしろ指ゆびを指さされるような行こう為いは慎つつしむべきだ。

You should avoid behavior that would make people talk behind your back.

Written forms

後うしろ指ゆびを指さす
Standard kanji spelling using 指す.
後うしろ指ゆびを差さす
Variant using 差す; less common but still seen.

Kanji

後behind, back, later
指finger, point to, indicate
差distinction, difference, variation

Similar words

陰かげ口ぐち
陰口 is a noun meaning 'backbiting' or 'malicious gossip', while 後ろ指を指す is a verb phrase describing the act of talking behind someone's back.
悪わる口ぐち
悪口 is a general term for 'badmouthing' or 'speaking ill of someone', which can be done directly or indirectly, whereas 後ろ指を指す specifically implies doing it behind the person's back.

Etymology

Literally 'to point a finger behind someone's back'. The image is of pointing at someone when they are not looking, symbolizing covert criticism or gossip. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a long-established idiomatic phrase.