脛すねに傷きず持もつ

expression, godan verb (-tsu)

have a guilty conscience; have a skeleton in the closet

Idiomatic expression literally meaning 'to have a wound on one's shin,' implying one has a past misdeed or secret that makes them feel uneasy or vulnerable.

• 彼かれは脛すねに傷きず持もつのか、その話わ題だいになると急きゅうに黙だまり込こんだ。

  Maybe he has a guilty conscience; he suddenly fell silent when that topic came up.

• 誰だれにでも脛すねに傷きず持もつところはあるものだ。

  Everyone has a skeleton or two in their closet.