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お先棒を担ぐ (おさきぼうをかつぐ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-gu)
be a willing cats-paw ; willingly act as someone's tool
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression meaning to knowingly let oneself be used by another, often for a scheme or selfish purpose. Conveys a sense of being a puppet or stooge.
あの 政せい 治じ 家か は いつも 誰だれ か の お 先さき 棒ぼう を 担かつ い で いる だけ だ 。
That politician is always just a cats-paw for someone else.
Written forms お 先さき 棒ぼう を 担かつ ぐ
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
お 先さき 棒ぼう をかつぐ
Kana spelling of the verb part; common in everyday writing.
Kanji 担 shouldering, carry, raise Similar words 手て 先さき 手先 is a more general term for a subordinate or underling used as a tool, while お先棒を担ぐ specifically emphasizes the willingness to be used and the idiomatic, somewhat old-fashioned flavor.
傀かい 儡らい 傀儡 is a formal word for a puppet or figurehead, often used in political contexts. お先棒を担ぐ is a colloquial, vivid expression for the act of being a willing tool.
Etymology The phrase originates from 先棒 (さきぼう), the front pole of a palanquin (駕籠), carried by a person at the front. お先棒を担ぐ literally means 'to carry the front pole', implying being the one who takes the lead in a task, often at someone else's behest. Over time, it gained the figurative meaning of being a willing tool or cats-paw.
