expression, ichidan verb
to falsely accuse; to make a false charge
Used when someone deliberately picks a quarrel or makes an unfounded accusation, often with hostile intent. The phrase implies the accusation is baseless and made to cause trouble.
彼は私に言いがかりをつけてきた。
He falsely accused me.
言いがかりをつけるのはやめてください。
Please stop making false accusations.
Most common spelling; uses hiragana for がかり to avoid rare kanji.
Variant with 付ける instead of つける; less common but still seen.
Uses the less common kanji 掛; rarely used in modern writing.
濡れ衣を着せる also means to falsely accuse, but it emphasizes framing someone for a crime or wrongdoing they didn't commit, often with a more serious or dramatic nuance. 言いがかりをつける is more about picking a quarrel or making a baseless verbal accusation.
因縁をつける is very similar, meaning to pick a fight or make a false accusation, but it often implies a more aggressive or thuggish confrontation. 言いがかりをつける can be used in a wider range of situations, including less violent disputes.
言いがかり (from 言う 'to say' + 掛かり 'hanging on, starting') means a false charge or pretext for a quarrel. をつける adds the meaning of 'to attach' or 'to make', forming the phrase 'to make a false accusation'.