expression, godan verb (-ru)
put on a bold front; act tough; be unyielding
Describes a person who is tense, defensive, or trying to appear stronger than they feel. Often used in negative contexts or advice to relax.
See also: 肩肘張る
彼はいつも肩肘を張っていて、なかなか本音を見せない。
He always has his guard up and rarely shows his true feelings.
そんなに肩肘を張らなくてもいいよ。
You don't have to be so tense about it.
expression, godan verb (-ru)
act stiffly; be overly formal
Used when someone is excessively formal or rigid in social situations, often due to nervousness or a desire to impress.
See also: 肩肘張る
初対面の相手に肩肘を張って話してしまった。
I ended up speaking stiffly to the person I met for the first time.
肩肘を張らずに、普段通りの自分でいよう。
Let's just be ourselves without being overly formal.