鳶とんびに油あぶら揚あげをさらわれる

expression, ichidan verb

have one's due snatched away; be robbed of one's prize

Proverbial expression: just as a black kite swoops down and steals fried tofu, one's expected gain or reward is suddenly taken by someone else. Often used when a person's effort is unfairly taken by another.

See also: 鳶

• せっかくの手て柄がらを同どう僚りょうに横よこ取どりされて、まさに鳶とんびに油あぶら揚あげをさらわれる思おもいだ。

  My colleague snatched away the credit I deserved—it's exactly like having my fried tofu stolen by a kite.

• 彼かれは昇しょう進しんのチャンスを他ほかの人ひとに持もっていかれて、鳶とんびに油あぶら揚あげをさらわれた気き分ぶんだった。

  He felt as if his promotion opportunity had been snatched away by someone else, like a kite stealing fried tofu.