尻尾を掴む · godan verb (-mu)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 尻尾を掴む | 尻尾を掴まない |
| Polite | 尻尾を掴みます | 尻尾を掴みません |
| Past polite | 尻尾を掴みました | 尻尾を掴みませんでした |
| Past | 尻尾を掴んだ | 尻尾を掴まなかった |
| Te-form | 尻尾を掴んで | 尻尾を掴まないで |
| Desire | 尻尾を掴みたい | 尻尾を掴みたくない |
| Potential | 尻尾を掴める | 尻尾を掴めない |
| Passive | 尻尾を掴まれる | 尻尾を掴まれない |
| Causative | 尻尾を掴ませる | 尻尾を掴ませない |
| Causative passive | 尻尾を掴ませられるalso 尻尾を掴まされる | 尻尾を掴ませられないalso 尻尾を掴まされない |
| Volitional | 尻尾を掴もう | |
| Polite volitional | 尻尾を掴みましょう | |
| Imperative | 尻尾を掴め | 尻尾を掴むな |
| Conditional | 尻尾を掴めば | 尻尾を掴まなければ |
| Tara conditional | 尻尾を掴んだら | 尻尾を掴まなかったら |
have something on someone; catch someone out; get evidence on someone
Idiomatic expression literally meaning 'grab the tail'. Used when you find a weakness, mistake, or secret that gives you leverage over someone.
I got evidence of his wrongdoing.
I caught the other party's mistake and used it to gain an advantage in the negotiations.