足あし元もとから鳥とりが立たつ

expression, godan verb (-tsu)

something unexpected happens close to home

Idiomatic expression meaning that something sudden or unforeseen occurs involving someone or something one is close to, often with a nuance of surprise or disruption. Used as a verb phrase.

• 長なが年ねん勤つとめた会かい社しゃが突とつ然ぜん倒とう産さんするなんて、まさに足あし元もとから鳥とりが立たつ思おもいだ。

  It feels exactly like a bird flying up from under your feet when the company you worked at for years suddenly goes bankrupt.

expression

abruptly; on the spur of the moment

Used adverbially, typically in the form 足元から鳥が立つように, to describe deciding or acting suddenly without prior indication. The verb 立つ is not inflected in this pattern.

• 彼かれは足あし元もとから鳥とりが立たつように辞じ表ひょうを出だした。

  He handed in his resignation as abruptly as a bird taking off from under one's feet.