イタチの最さい後ごっ屁ぺ

い

た

ち

の

さ

い

ご

っ

ぺ

Meanings

1

expression, noun

last resort; final desperate measure

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression referring to a final, often weak or desperate, measure taken when cornered. Literally 'the weasel's last fart', evoking the weasel's defensive odor.

彼かれの言いい

訳わけ

は

イタチの

最さい

後ご

っ

屁ぺ

に

過す

ぎ

ない

。

His excuse is nothing more than a last resort.

追おい詰つめられた犯はん人にんがイタチの最さい後ごっ屁ぺで人ひと質じちを取とった。

Cornered, the criminal took a hostage as a final desperate measure.

Kanji

最utmost, most, extreme
後behind, back, later
屁fart, passing gas
鼬weasel, skunk, ermine

Related words

最さい後ごの手しゅ段だん
A neutral, literal expression for 'last resort', without the idiomatic or desperate nuance of イタチの最後っ屁.
窮きゅう鼠そ猫ねこを噛かむ
A proverb meaning 'a cornered rat will bite the cat', emphasizing a desperate counterattack rather than a weak final measure.

Written forms

イタチの最さい後ごっ屁ぺ
Common katakana-kanji spelling for the idiom.
鼬いたちの最さい後ごっ屁ぺ
Kanji form using 鼬 for weasel; less common but still seen.

Etymology

From the belief that a weasel (イタチ) releases a foul-smelling gas as a last-ditch defense when cornered. The exact origin is uncertain, but the phrase has been used idiomatically since at least the Edo period.