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木で鼻をくくる (きではなをくくる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-ru)
be blunt ; be curt ; give a cold reply
idiomatic expression
Describes a deliberately short, unfriendly, or dismissive manner of speaking, as if tying one's nose with wood—stiff and unyielding. Often used when someone responds coldly or without warmth.
That clerk always has a blunt, off-putting attitude.
Written forms 木き で 鼻はな をくくる
Standard kana-mixed spelling for this idiomatic expression.
木き で 鼻はな を 括くく る
Kanji spelling using 括る; less common but still encountered.
Similar words そっけない そっけない is an adjective meaning 'cold, curt, unfriendly' and can describe a person's attitude or reply. 木で鼻をくくる is a more vivid, idiomatic expression specifically for a blunt, dismissive manner of speaking.
つっけんどん つっけんどん is a na-adjective meaning 'curt, brusque, blunt'. It is similar in meaning but less figurative than 木で鼻をくくる, which evokes a stiff, wooden response.
Etymology The phrase literally means 'to tie one's nose with wood', implying a stiff, inflexible, and unfeeling manner. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a traditional idiomatic expression.
