逆げき鱗りんに触ふれる

expression, ichidan verb

infuriate one's superior; incur the boss's wrath

Idiomatic expression meaning to provoke the anger of someone in a higher position, especially a boss or superior. The phrase originates from a Chinese legend about a dragon's reverse scale that, when touched, enrages the dragon.

• 社しゃ長ちょうの逆げき鱗りんに触ふれて、彼かれは左さ遷せんされた。

  He incurred the president's wrath and was demoted.

• あの一ひと言ことが部ぶ長ちょうの逆げき鱗りんに触ふれたらしい。

  That one remark seems to have touched a nerve with the department head.

expression, ichidan verb

offend the Emperor; incur the Imperial wrath

Original, literal meaning from Chinese legend: to touch the reverse scale on a dragon's throat, thereby enraging it. In Japanese historical context, it refers to offending the Emperor. Now largely replaced by the figurative sense 1.

• 古ふるい文ぶん献けんでは、臣しん下かが帝みかどの逆げき鱗りんに触ふれることを恐おそれたと記しるされている。

  Old texts record that retainers feared incurring the Imperial wrath.