also: おそれいりやのきしもじん
expression
sorry; beg pardon; much obliged
A jocular, punning apology or expression of thanks, playing on 恐れ入りや (a dialectal or old-fashioned variant of 恐れ入ります) and 鬼子母神 (Kishimojin, a Buddhist deity). Used humorously to sound exaggerated or old-timey.
See also: 恐れ入る (おそれいる) · 鬼子母神 (きしもじん)
遅くなって恐れ入谷の鬼子母神です。
Sorry for being late (said jokingly).
お土産をいただき、恐れ入谷の鬼子母神。
Much obliged for the souvenir (said humorously).
A pun on 恐れ入りや (a dialectal or old-fashioned variant of 恐れ入ります) and 入谷の鬼子母神 (Iriya no Kishimojin, a well-known temple in Tokyo dedicated to the deity Kishimojin). The phrase humorously combines an apology with the temple name.