旅たびの恥はじはかき捨すて

Meanings

once over the borders one may do anything; what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas; shame on a journey can be scratched away

proverb

Proverb meaning that when traveling, one can act without worrying about reputation or shame, because strangers won't know you and any embarrassment can be left behind. The literal image is of scratching away shame like dirt.

旅たびの恥はじはかき捨すてというから、知しらない土と地ちでは少すこしくらい羽は目めを外はずしても大だい丈じょう夫ぶだよ。
They say 'once over the borders one may do anything,' so it's okay to let loose a little in a place where nobody knows you.
旅たび先さきで派は手でな服ふくを着きるのも、旅たびの恥はじはかき捨すての精せい神しんだ。
Wearing flashy clothes while traveling is also in the spirit of 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.'

Kanji

旅trip, travel
恥shame, dishonor
捨discard, throw away, abandon
掻scratch, rake, comb

Related words

恥はじをかく
Means 'to be embarrassed' or 'to make a fool of oneself'; the proverb uses the idea of shame (恥) but focuses on leaving it behind while traveling.
旅たびの恥はじ
Literally 'travel shame'; the full proverb is a fixed expression, while this phrase alone is not commonly used independently.

Built from

旅たび+恥はじ+捨すてる

Written forms

旅たびの恥はじはかき捨すて
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling for this proverb.
旅たびの恥はじは掻かき捨すて
Variant using the kanji 掻 for かき; less common but still encountered.

Etymology

A traditional Japanese proverb. The literal meaning is 'the shame of a journey is scratched away,' suggesting that embarrassing acts committed while traveling can be easily forgotten or left behind. The exact origin is uncertain, but it reflects the historical reality that travelers were anonymous and free from the usual social constraints.