爪に火をともす

つめにひをともす

Also written 爪に火を灯す, つめに火をともす, 爪に火を点す

Meanings

1. Expression, Godan verb to lead a stingy life; to scrimp and save; to pinch pennies (literally: to light one's (finger)nails (instead of a candle))

Kanji

• 爪 nail. Read as つめ.
• 火 fire

Word lists

• Idioms

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists