[Japanese Idioms by Flashcards]
足もとから鳥が立つ
“Birds fly up from under one’s feet.”
(an unexpected departure, a surprise, a sudden happening)
What could be more startling than a pheasant or other ground-nesting bird flying up suddenly from in front of you? That’s the feeling Japanese experience when a friend or an acquaintance leaves without warning. To be caught unawares.
Sample text:
(Style: spoken/casual/female)
A: Tonari no manshon ni sundeita Kawakami-san, hikkoshita no?
B: Ee. Kyuuni Shidonii ni tenkin de ne. Mattaku “ashimoto kara fori ga tatsu” to wa, ano koto ne. Aru hi kyuuni satto hikiharatchatta no yo.
A: となりのマンションに住んでいた
B: ええ。急にシドニーに転勤でね。全く「足もとから鳥が立つ」とは。あのことね。ある日急にサッとひき払っちゃっ たのよ。
A: Did Kawakami move, the guy next door in your condominium?
B: Yeah. He was unexpectedly transferred to Sydney. Such a surprise, you know. Suddenly one day he simply moved out.
Japanese Idioms
