Idioms: Stage 1

Tell someone to knock it off, say you're angry or not in the mood, offer or ask for help, call people kind, clever or loose-lipped, say something makes no sense, and talk about luck, bad times and getting fired.

90 idioms in 21 chunks, learned alongside Stage 1 of the main list. Start with Enough already and use Next at the bottom of each page.

1. 1Enough alreadyFeelings & temperii kagen ni shite knock it off, that's enoughkanben shite give me a break, spare mejoudan ja nai no way, you've got to be kiddingkatte ni shite fine, do what you wantni mo hodo ga aru (X) is going way too far
2. 2Lending a handGetting on with peoplete o kasu help out, give someone a handchikara ni naru be there for someone, helpchikara o kasu lend your support, help (with something big)chikara o awaseru pull together, join forces
3. 3Giving it everythingEffort, ease & difficultyisshou kenmei as hard as one can, with all one's mightnani ga nandemo no matter what, at all costskiai o ireru get fired up; put real effort intoshinu ki de all-out, as if your life depended on it
4. 4Kind or nastyWhat people are likeki ga kiku thoughtful, attentive; (of a remark or gift) clever, apthito ga ii good-natured and trusting (often too much so)tachi ga warui nasty, vicious, hard to deal withhito ga warui sly, mean (in a teasing way)
5. 5Having an ideaNoticing & the mindkokoroatari ga aru have an idea who, why or wherekentou mo tsukanai have no idea at allhyaku mo shouchi know perfectly well
6. 6Gains and windfallsLuck, trouble & outcomeste ni ireru get hold of, obtainte ni hairu be obtainable, come into one's handsisseki nichou two benefits from one actionnegatte mo nai better than you could have hoped for, most welcometanabota an unexpected windfall
7. 7Saying itTalking & listeningkuchi ni suru mention, say (aloud); (formal) eat or drinkiu made mo nai needless to say, it goes without saying; (X wa iu made mo naku) not to mention Xkuchi ni dasu say out loud, put into words, mention
8. 8Getting angryFeelings & temperhara ga tatsu get angry, be annoyedatama ni kuru get mad, be furiouski ni kuwanai don't like, rubs you the wrong waykatto naru snap, lose one's tempermunakuso warui sickening, leaves you disgustedkachin to kuru be irritated (by a remark)
9. 9Dealing with peopleGetting on with peopleiu koto o kiku do as you're told, obeyaite ni suru deal with, take on (an opponent); (negative) ignore, not bother withkuchi o kiku speak to someone, be on speaking termsate ni suru count on, rely on
10. 10Work and breaksEffort, ease & difficultyyama hodo aru there's tons of ithitoiki tsuku take a breather, have a short breakkiri ga nai there's no end to itkiri ga ii at a good stopping point; a nice round number
11. 11Talk and secretsWhat people are likekuchi dake all talk, no actionkuchi ga katai can keep a secret, discreetkuchi ga warui sharp-tongued, blunt to the point of rudekuchi ga karui can't keep a secretkuchi ga umai smooth-talking, good with words (often of flattery or sales talk)
12. 12Eyes on itNoticing & the mindme o hanasu take your eyes off (someone)me o tsukeru have your eye on; single someone outme ni tsuku catch the eye, stand outkugizuke ni naru be glued to (a screen, a sight)me o hikaraseru keep a sharp eye on
13. 13A rough timeLuck, trouble & outcomeshidoi me ni au have an awful timeitai me ni au get hurt; get burned (pay for a mistake)share ni naranai it's no joke, it's seriously badma ga warui bad timing, an awkward momentfundari kettari one bad thing after another
14. 14HearingTalking & listeningmimi ni suru hear (about), come acrossmimi o kasu heed, give someone a hearing (mostly 'won't listen'); lean in so I can whispermimi ni hairu reach someone's ears, get word ofkomimi ni hasamu happen to hear, catch wind of
15. 15In the moodFeelings & temperki ga kawaru change your mindki ga susumanai be reluctant, not keenki ga noranai not in the moodki ga muku feel like doing itki ga hikeru feel bad about doing it
16. 16Butting inGetting on with peoplete o dasu hit, lay a finger on; get into (drugs, stocks); make a move on (someone)kuchi o dasu butt in, meddle (with unasked-for opinions)yokei na osewa none of your businesskubi o tsukkomu poke your nose in, get mixed up in
17. 17Smart or crazyWhat people are likeatama ga okashii crazy, out of one's mindatama ga kireru sharp, quick and incisiveatama no kaiten ga hayai quick-witted, a fast thinkernomikomi ga hayai a quick learner
18. 18Doesn't add upNoticing & the mindwake ga wakaranai makes no sense at all, bafflingsuji ga tooru make sense, be fair and logicaltsujitsuma ga awanai it doesn't add upnani ga nan da ka wakaranai have no idea what's going onfu ni ochinai can't quite accept it, doesn't sit right
19. 19Out of a jobLuck, trouble & outcomeskubi ni naru get fired, lose one's jobkubi ni suru fire someoneashi o arau go straight, quit a shady life
20. 20About the talkTalking & listeninghanashi ga chigau that's not what we agreed; that's a different matterhanashi ni naranai hopeless, not even worth discussinghanashi wa betsu that's a different storyhanashi ga hayai that makes it easy, that saves explaining
21. 21Owing favoursGetting on with peoplekari ga aru owe someone a favourokotoba ni amaete I'll gladly take you up on thatisshou no onegai please, I'm begging you (just this once)on ni kiru I owe you big, I'm really grateful