足あしが出でる

あ

し

が

で

る

JLPTN2

Meanings

1

expression, ichidan verb

exceed the budget; go over budget; run a deficit

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression for spending more than planned or having a shortfall. Often used in personal or business finance contexts.

今こん月げつは交こう際さい費ひがかさんで、予よ算さんから足あしが出でてしまった。
This month entertainment expenses piled up and we went over budget.

旅りょ行こうの計けい画かくで足あしが出でないように、事じ前ぜんにしっかり計けい算さんした。

I carefully calculated in advance so that the trip plan wouldn't exceed the budget.

2

expression, ichidan verb

have a secret revealed; be found out

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression meaning that a hidden wrongdoing or secret becomes exposed. Less common than the financial sense.

不ふ正せいを隠かくしていたが、ついに足あしが出でてしまった。
He had been hiding his misconduct, but finally his secret was revealed.

Written forms

足あしが出でる
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
あしが出でる
Kana spelling is common in casual writing and when the idiom is used in its financial sense.

Kanji

足leg, foot, be sufficient
出exit, leave, go out

Similar words

赤あか字じになる
赤字になる means 'to go into the red' in a straightforward financial sense, while 足が出る is an idiomatic expression for exceeding a budget or having a shortfall, often with a nuance of unexpectedness.
ばれる
ばれる is a casual verb meaning 'to be found out' or 'to be exposed', used for secrets or lies. 足が出る in its second sense is a more idiomatic and slightly formal way to express the same idea.

Etymology

The idiom 足が出る literally means 'a foot comes out'. It is thought to originate from the image of a foot sticking out from under a cover, suggesting something hidden becoming visible (sense 2), or from the idea of expenses 'stepping out' beyond the budget (sense 1). The exact historical derivation is uncertain.