寸すん鉄てつ人ひとを殺ころす

expression, godan verb (-su)

make a cutting remark; kill with a short blade

Idiomatic expression. The literal meaning is 'to kill a person with a short blade', but it is almost always used figuratively to mean delivering a sharp, incisive remark that cuts deeply. The figurative sense is the primary modern usage.

• 彼かれの一ひと言ことは寸すん鉄てつ人ひとを殺ころすような鋭するどさだった。

  His single remark was as sharp as a short blade that kills.

• 寸すん鉄てつ人ひとを殺ころすとは、短みじかい言こと葉ばで相あい手てをやり込こめることだ。

  'Sun tetsu hito o korosu' means to overwhelm someone with a short, cutting phrase.