外堀を埋める そとぼりをうめる Meanings Expression, Ichidan verb to remove obstacles in the way of one's objective; to take an indirect approach (literally: to fill in the outer moat) Kanji 外 outside. Read as そと. 堀 moat. Read as ほり. 埋 bury. Read as うめる. Word lists Idioms Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists