石いしに漱くちすすぎ流ながれに枕まくらす

expression, suru verb (precursor)

stubbornly refuse to admit one is wrong

A classical idiomatic expression used to describe someone who obstinately refuses to acknowledge their mistake, often by making unreasonable excuses. The literal image is of rinsing one's mouth with a rock and using a flowing stream as a pillow, implying absurd contrariness.

• 彼かれは石いしに漱くちすすぎ流ながれに枕まくらすような言いい訳わけをして、自じ分ぶんの非ひを認みとめようとしなかった。

  He made excuses as absurd as rinsing his mouth with a rock and resting his head in a stream, refusing to admit he was wrong.