Proverb / Kotowaza
足が出る
To exceed a budget or planned expenditure, resulting in a deficit.
to have one's feet stick out
Quick Answer
To exceed a budget or planned expenditure, resulting in a deficit.
- Literal Image
- to have one's feet stick out
- How to Use It
- This expression is used when reporting that a project, trip, or household budget has gone over the intended limit.
Meaning
This expression describes a situation where actual spending surpasses the allocated budget, leading to a financial loss. It can also refer to a situation where a secret or something hidden is exposed or brought to light.
Literal Image
to have one's feet stick out
How to Use It
This expression is used when reporting that a project, trip, or household budget has gone over the intended limit.
Tone
Used in financial contexts to express a negative or unintended outcome.
Examples
旅行で贅沢をしすぎて、大幅に足が出てしまった。
I overindulged on the trip, and it ended up being significantly over budget.
今月は冠婚葬祭が重なり、家計に足が出る。
With many weddings and funerals falling in the same month, the household budget is going into the red.
どんなに節約しても、この予算では足が出るのは避けられない。
No matter how much we save, it is unavoidable that we will exceed this budget.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The kanji and grammar are basic, but the meaning is entirely idiomatic and requires learning the phrase as a single unit.
足
あし / ashi
foot; leg
出る
でる / deru
to exit; to come out; to protrude
Usage Profile
Usage note: While primarily used for money, remember the secondary meaning regarding secrets being revealed.
Misread Risk
Do not assume this refers to literally sticking one's feet out of a door; it refers to financial deficits in daily conversation.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
The expression is said to be a metaphor comparing exceeding a budget to the way feet might stick out from footwear that is too small for them. It is used primarily to describe a shortage of funds.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.