立りっ錐すいの余よ地ち

expression, noun

the slightest bit of room; room to stand a gimlet on its end

Almost always used in negative constructions such as 立錐の余地もない or 立錐の余地がない, meaning there is absolutely no room. The literal image is of a space so small that even a gimlet cannot stand upright.

See also: 立錐の余地もない

• 会かい場じょうは立りっ錐すいの余よ地ちもないほど混こん雑ざつしていた。

  The venue was so crowded that there wasn't even the slightest bit of room.

• 彼かれの机つくえの上うえは書しょ類るいで立りっ錐すいの余よ地ちもない。

  His desk is so covered with papers that there isn't room to stand a gimlet on its end.