腰こし弁べん

noun

lunchbox hanging from one's waist; low-paid office worker

Originally referred to a lunchbox tied to the waist, then came to mean a low-ranking, poorly paid office worker who brings a lunchbox. The term is dated and carries a slightly derogatory or pitying tone.

• 昔むかしの腰こし弁べんは、昼ひるになると腰こしに下さげた弁べん当とうを広ひろげたものだ。

  In the old days, low-paid office workers would open their lunchboxes hanging from their waists at noon.

• 彼かれは長なが年ねん腰こし弁べん暮ぐらしで、なかなか昇しょう進しんできなかった。

  He lived as a low-paid office worker for many years and couldn't get promoted.