ごぼう抜ぬき

noun

pulling out in one stroke; plucking out

Literally pulling something out smoothly, like a burdock root from the ground. Often used figuratively.

• 大だい根こんをごぼう抜ぬきするように引ひき抜ぬいた。

  I pulled out the daikon radish as if plucking a burdock root.

noun

forcibly removing one after another

Used for removing people or things in quick succession, often in contexts like protests or clearing a line.

• 警けい察さつがデモ隊たいをごぼう抜ぬきにして排はい除じょした。

  The police forcibly removed the demonstrators one after another.

noun

overtaking multiple people in a spurt; pulling ahead

Common in sports and racing contexts, describing a sudden burst of speed to pass several competitors at once.

• 最さい終しゅうコーナーで彼かれはごぼう抜ぬきを見みせて優ゆう勝しょうした。

  He overtook multiple runners at the final corner and won the race.