骨ほねを盗ぬすむ

expression, godan verb (-mu)

spare oneself; avoid effort; cut corners

Used when someone avoids hard work or takes the easy way out. Often appears in negative or admonishing contexts. Compare with 骨を惜しむ, which has a similar meaning.

See also: 骨を惜しむ

• 彼かれはいつも骨ほねを盗ぬすんで、楽らくな仕し事ごとばかり選えらぶ。

  He always spares himself and chooses only easy tasks.

• 骨ほねを盗ぬすまずに、最さい後ごまでやり遂とげなさい。

  Don't cut corners; see it through to the end.

expression, godan verb (-mu)

nullify someone's efforts

Archaic usage, typically in the negative forms 骨を盗むまい or 骨を盗まず, meaning to not let someone's hard work go to waste. Rare in modern Japanese.

• 先せん人じんの骨ほねを盗ぬすむまいと、私わたしたちはこの事じ業ぎょうを続つづけてきた。

  We have continued this project so as not to nullify the efforts of our predecessors.