鯖を読む

Japanese
Kanji in this term
鯖 読
さば
Hyōgaiji		 よ
Grade: 2
kun’yomi
Alternative spelling
鯖を讀む (kyūjitai)

Etymology

From a supposedly common act of fishmongers who forge or misrepresent the amount of 鯖 (“mackerel”) they sell in a bulk.

Verb

鯖(さば)を読(よ)む • (saba o yomu) godan (stem 鯖(さば)を読(よ)み (saba o yomi), past 鯖(さば)を読(よ)んだ (saba o yonda))

  1. (idiomatic) manipulate figures to one's advantage, especially one's own age, height, or weight

Usage notes

When used about age, it normally is about presenting oneself as younger than their actual age.

Derived terms
  • 鯖読(さばよ)み (sabayomi, “manipulation of figures”)
  • 逆鯖(ぎゃくさば) (gyakusaba, “presenting oneself as older than their actual age”)
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.