毛もう氈せんを被かぶる

expression, godan verb (-ru)

blunder; bungle; fail

Archaic expression literally meaning 'to wear a felt rug', used figuratively for making a blunder or failing at something. Not used in modern Japanese.

• あの役やく人にんは大だい事じな交こう渉しょうで毛もう氈せんを被かぶってしまったそうだ。

  That official is said to have blundered in the important negotiations.

expression, godan verb (-ru)

use up all one's money (esp. on prostitutes)

Archaic expression with a specific nuance of squandering all one's money, especially on the services of prostitutes. The felt rug metaphor may imply being covered in shame or ruin.

• 遊ゆう郭かく通がよいで毛もう氈せんを被かぶり、身しん代だいを潰つぶした商しょう人にんもいたという。

  There were merchants who, through frequenting the pleasure quarters, used up all their money and ruined their fortunes.