生いき馬うまの目めを抜ぬく

expression

shrewd; sharp; quick-witted

Describes someone who is cunningly alert and never misses an opportunity; often used in contexts like big-city survival or competitive environments. The literal image is of plucking out a live horse's eye—an act requiring extreme speed and audacity.

• 東とう京きょうは生いき馬うまの目めを抜ぬくような街まちだ。

  Tokyo is a city where you have to be sharp and keep your wits about you.

• 彼かれは生いき馬うまの目めを抜ぬくような商しょう売ばい上手じょうずだ。

  He is a shrewd businessman who never misses a trick.