幽ゆう霊れいの正しょう体たい見みたり枯かれ尾お花ばな

expression

things are not as scary as they seem; fear makes the wolf bigger than he is

Proverb meaning that when you investigate something frightening, it often turns out to be harmless. Literally: 'The ghost, when examined closely, is withered silver grass.'

• 夜よ道みちで怖こわいと思おもった影かげも、よく見みればただの木きだった。幽ゆう霊れいの正しょう体たい見みたり枯かれ尾お花ばなだね。

  The shadow I thought was scary on the night road turned out to be just a tree when I looked closely. Things are not as scary as they seem.

• あの上じょう司しは厳きびしそうだけど、話はなしてみたら優やさしかった。幽ゆう霊れいの正しょう体たい見みたり枯かれ尾お花ばなというやつだ。

  That boss seemed strict, but when I talked to him, he was kind. It's a case of fear making the wolf bigger than he is.