肩かた肘ひじ張はる

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

put on a bold front; act tough; be unyielding

Describes a person who is tense, defensive, or trying to appear stronger than they feel. Often used in negative contexts or advice to relax.

• 彼かれはいつも肩かた肘ひじ張はって生いきている。

  He always lives with his shoulders squared, on the defensive.

• そんなに肩かた肘ひじ張はらなくてもいいよ。

  You don't have to be so tense about it.

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

act stiffly; be formal; be on ceremony

Used when someone is overly formal or rigid in social situations, unable to relax. Often appears in the negative form 肩肘張らずに (without stiffness).

• 初しょ対たい面めんだと、どうしても肩かた肘ひじ張はってしまう。

  When meeting someone for the first time, I can't help but act stiffly.

• 肩かた肘ひじ張はらずに、普ふ段だんの自じ分ぶんで話はなしてください。

  Please speak as your usual self, without being so formal.