expression, godan verb (-ru)
become tense; become serious; sober up
Describes a person's mental or emotional state tightening up, often in response to a serious situation, criticism, or a wake-up call. The subject is usually a person or their feelings.
試験の結果を見て、身が引き締まる思いだった。
Seeing the exam results, I felt a sense of sobering seriousness.
彼の厳しい言葉に、身が引き締まった。
His harsh words made me pull myself together.
expression, noun-modifying (irregular)
sobering; bracing
Prenominal form used to describe an experience, event, or atmosphere that is sobering or bracing. Often appears as 身が引き締まる思い or 身が引き締まるような.
身が引き締まるような寒さだ。
It's a bracing cold.
身が引き締まる思いで、その話を聞いた。
I listened to the story with a sobering feeling.