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下駄を履かせる (げたをはかせる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
inflate figures ; pad ; jack up
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression meaning to artificially increase numbers, scores, or statistics, often in a dishonest or exaggerated way. Literally 'to make someone wear geta' (wooden clogs), implying raising height.
テスト の 点てん 数すう に 下げ 駄た を 履は か せる の は よく ない 。
It's not good to pad test scores.
Kanji 駄 burdensome, pack horse, horse load 履 perform, complete, footgear Similar words 水みず 増ま し 水増し is a noun/suru-verb meaning 'dilution' or 'padding', often used for inflating numbers or adding filler. 下駄を履かせる is a more vivid, idiomatic expression with the same core meaning.
嵩かさ 上あ げ 嵩上げ literally means 'raising the height' and can be used for physical elevation or figuratively for increasing amounts. 下駄を履かせる is exclusively figurative and more colloquial.
Etymology From the image of making someone wear geta (wooden clogs) to increase their height, metaphorically extended to inflating numbers or scores. The exact origin is uncertain, but the expression is well-established in modern Japanese.
