爪つめの垢あか

expression, noun

dirt under one's fingernails

Literal meaning: the grime that accumulates under fingernails. Used in the set phrase 爪の垢を煎じて飲む (to learn from someone's example).

• 爪つめの垢あかがたまっている。

  There's dirt under my fingernails.

• 彼かれの爪つめの垢あかを煎せんじて飲のみたいくらいだ。

  I wish I could learn from his example (literally: boil and drink the dirt from under his nails).

expression, noun

shred; scrap; bit; smidgen

Idiomatic use: a tiny amount of a desirable quality, often in the phrase 爪の垢でも煎じて飲め (you should learn even a little from someone better).

• 彼かれの爪つめの垢あかでも煎せんじて飲のめば、少すこしはましになるだろう。

  If you could learn even a shred from him, you'd be a bit better.