取り付く島がない

とりつくしまがない

Also written とりつく島がない

Meanings

1. Expression, い-adjective left utterly helpless (e.g. by a curt reply or refusal); have no one to turn to; unapproachable See also: 取り付く島もない (とりつくしまもない).

Kanji

• 取 take. Read as とり.
• 付 attach. Read as つく.
• 島 island. Read as しま.

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists