一人ひとり相撲ずもう

noun

fighting windmills; tilting at windmills; one-sided struggle

Idiomatic expression for a futile, one-sided effort where the opponent is imaginary or unresponsive; often used with 取る (一人相撲を取る).

• 彼かれの抗こう議ぎは誰だれも相あい手てにせず、完かん全ぜんに一人ひとり相撲ずもうだった。

  Nobody took his protest seriously; it was completely a one-man fight.

• あの政せい治じ家かはいつも一人ひとり相撲ずもうを取とっているように見みえる。

  That politician always seems to be tilting at windmills.

noun

solo sumo performance; one-man sumo show

Historical term for a street performance where a person mimics a sumo match alone, often for entertainment or begging.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、一人ひとり相撲ずもうを見みせる大だい道どう芸げい人にんがいた。

  In the Edo period, there were street performers who put on solo sumo shows.