longing for someone or something; waiting eagerly for a great talent
A literary yojijukugo expressing intense anticipation or yearning, often for a person of outstanding ability. The literal image is of stretching one's neck and standing on tiptoes to see someone arrive. Used in formal or classical contexts.
We waited for his return with great longing, stretching our necks and standing on tiptoes.
延頸挙踵の思いで新監督の就任を待つ。
We await the new manager's appointment with eager anticipation.
A common, everyday expression for 'waiting eagerly' or 'looking forward to something.' 延頸挙踵 is a much more formal, literary equivalent.
A yojijukugo derived from classical Chinese, combining 延 (stretch), 頸 (neck), 挙 (raise), and 踵 (heel). The literal meaning is 'stretch one's neck and stand on tiptoes,' figuratively expressing eager anticipation.