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
せっかくの手柄を同僚に横取りされて、まさに鳶に油揚げをさらわれる思いだ。
My colleague snatched away the credit I deserved—it's exactly like having my fried tofu stolen by a kite.
彼は昇進のチャンスを他の人に持っていかれて、鳶に油揚げをさらわれた気分だった。
He felt as if his promotion opportunity had been snatched away by someone else, like a kite stealing fried tofu.