焼け跡の釘拾い

Japanese
Kanji in this term
焼 跡 釘 拾
や
Grade: 4		 あと
Grade: S		 くぎ
Jinmeiyō		 ひろ
Grade: 3
kun’yomi
Alternative spelling
燒け跡の釘拾い (kyūjitai)

Etymology

焼け跡 (“ruins of fire”) +‎ の +‎ 釘 (“nail”) +‎ 拾い (“to pick up”). Literally: to pick up nails after a fire.

Idiom

焼(や)け跡(あと)の釘(くぎ)拾(ひろ)い • (yakeato no kugihiroi) 

  1. to try to save a little only to lose a lot; to spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar; to be penny wise and pound foolish
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