焼け跡の釘拾い

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Japanese

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Kanji in this term

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

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

Idiom

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()(あと)(くぎ)(ひろ) (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