Proverb / Kotowaza
棒に振る
To waste all of one's previous efforts or hard work.
To swing a pole
Quick Answer
To waste all of one's previous efforts or hard work.
- Literal Image
- To swing a pole
- How to Use It
- Used when someone loses something valuable, such as a career, a dream, or years of work, due to an unfortunate event or error.
Meaning
To bring a project, career, or dream to a complete loss after having put in significant effort. It describes a situation where everything built up so far is ruined or rendered meaningless by a specific mistake, injury, or scandal.
Literal Image
To swing a pole
How to Use It
Used when someone loses something valuable, such as a career, a dream, or years of work, due to an unfortunate event or error.
Tone
Carries a sense of regret, misfortune, or criticism regarding a wasted opportunity.
Examples
一瞬の不注意で、一年間の努力を棒に振ってしまった。
I wasted a year's worth of effort due to a moment of carelessness.
不祥事によって、彼は自らのキャリアを棒に振った。
He threw away his career because of a scandal.
怪我のせいで、オリンピック出場という夢を棒に振ることになった。
Because of an injury, his dream of participating in the Olympics was lost.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The kanji and grammar are relatively simple, but the idiomatic leap from 'swinging a pole' to 'wasting effort' requires specific knowledge.
棒
ぼう / bou
pole or stick
振る
ふる / furu
to swing or wave
努力
どりょく / doryoku
effort
台無し
だいなし / dainashi
ruined or spoiled
Usage Profile
Usage note: This expression is used for significant losses, not for minor daily inconveniences.
Misread Risk
Do not use this for minor or trivial setbacks; it describes the loss of something major like a career, a long-term goal, or a dream.
Search As
Related Proverbs
Origin
This expression comes from the Edo period and refers to traveling merchants who carried their goods on a shoulder pole (tenbinbou). It describes a situation where a merchant failed in business, leaving them with nothing but the pole itself.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
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.