手持ち無沙汰

てもちぶさた

Also written 手持ちぶさた

Meanings

1. Noun, な-adjective having nothing to do; having time on one's hands (and not knowing what to do); being at a loose end; being bored

Kanji

• 手 hand. Read as て.
• 持 hold. Read as もち.
• 無 without
• 沙 sand
• 汰 sift. Read as タ.

Example sentences

• タバコでも吸っていないと手持ちぶさただ。
  Sometimes I smoke just to give my hands something to do.

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists