なすり合あい

な

す

り

あ

い

Meanings

recrimination; mutual blame-shifting

Refers to a situation where people blame each other, often in a back-and-forth manner. Commonly used in the phrase なすり合いをする.

事じ故この後あと、運うん転てん手しゅ同どう士しでなすり合あいが始はじまった。
After the accident, the drivers started blaming each other.
政せい治じ家かたちのなすり合あいは、国こく民みんにとってうんざりだ。
The politicians' mutual recriminations are tiresome for the public.

Kanji

擦grate, rub, scratch
合fit, suit, join

Related words

責せき任にん転てん嫁か
責任転嫁 is shifting responsibility onto someone else, while なすり合い emphasizes the mutual, back-and-forth nature of the blame.
非ひ難なんの応おう酬しゅう
非難の応酬 is a more formal expression for an exchange of criticisms, not necessarily limited to shifting blame.

Built from

なする+合あう

Written forms

なすり合あいUsage100%
Common kana-kanji mixed spelling; the kanji 合い indicates mutual action.
擦なすり合あい
Kanji spelling is possible but less common; 擦り is normally read こすり or すり, so this form may be confusing.

Etymology

Compound of なすり (from 擦る, 'to rub off, shift blame') + 合い (mutual action). The exact derivation of なすり is uncertain, but it is associated with the idea of rubbing off responsibility onto another.