裏うら表おもて

noun

inside out; wrong side out

Used especially for clothing or fabric when the inside and outside are reversed; often appears as 裏表に着る or 裏表だ.

• Tシャツを裏うら表おもてに着きていた。

  I was wearing my T-shirt inside out.

• その靴くつ下した、裏うら表おもてだよ。

  That sock is inside out.

noun

two-facedness; double-dealing; duplicity

Figurative use for a difference between how someone acts outwardly and what they really think or do. Common in patterns like 裏表がある and 裏表のない人.

See also: 表裏

• 彼かれは裏うら表おもてのない性せい格かくで、誰だれにでも同おなじ態たい度どを取とる。

  He has no two-facedness in his character and treats everyone the same.

• あの人ひとは少すこし裏うら表おもてがあると言いわれている。

  People say that person is a little two-faced.

noun

public face and hidden reality; outward appearance and actual condition; inner workings

Refers to both the visible, official side of something and the less visible reality behind it; often used when someone knows the ins and outs of a world or organization.

• 彼かれはこの業ぎょう界かいの裏うら表おもてを知しり尽つくしている。

  He knows the public face and inner workings of this industry thoroughly.

• 長なが年ねんの取しゅ材ざいで、彼かの女じょは政せい界かいの裏うら表おもてを見みてきた。

  Through years of reporting, she has seen both the outward face and the hidden realities of the political world.