首を洗って待つ くびをあらってまつ Meanings Expression, Godan verb to wait for one's punishment; to wait before one gets what's coming to one (literally: to wash one's neck and wait (i.e. for one's beheading)) (usu. in the imperative, as a threat) Kanji 首 neck. Read as くび. 洗 wash. Read as あらう. 待 wait. Read as まつ. Word lists Idioms Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists