霞かすみを食くう

expression, godan verb (-u)

live on air; live without income; subsist on nothing

Idiomatic expression meaning to live without any visible means of support, as if one could survive on mist alone. Often used in negative or skeptical contexts.

• 彼かれは仕し事ごともせずにどうやって生せい活かつしているんだ？まるで霞かすみを食くっているみたいだ。

  How does he live without a job? It's as if he's living on air.

• 霞かすみを食くって生いきていけるわけがない。

  There's no way you can survive on nothing.