隔靴掻痒

Reading

Kana: かっかそうよう

Romaji: kakkasouyou

Definition

noun

1

being frustrated because something is not quite as hoped (just as one cannot scratch an itch from outside a shoe); having an itch that one cannot scratch

Note: yojijukugo

Kanji

隔

Readings: カク、 へだ.てる、 へだ.たる

Meanings: isolate, alternate, distance, separate, gulf

靴

Readings: カ、 くつ

Meaning: shoes

掻

Readings: ソウ、 か.く

Meanings: scratch, rake, comb, paddle, behead

痒

Readings: ヨウ、 かゆ.がる、 かさ、 かゆ.い

Meaning: itchy

Example Sentence

もっと単刀直入(たんとうちょくにゅう)に言(い)ってくれないかな。隔靴掻痒(かっかそうよう)の感(かん)なきにしもあらずだよ。

➥You don't have to leave me hanging like this. Why don't you just come out and tell it to me straight?