Proverb / Kotowaza
生き馬の目を抜く
Acting with ruthless speed to snatch profits from others in a fiercely competitive environment.
Plucking the eyes out of a living horse
Quick Answer
Acting with ruthless speed to snatch profits from others in a fiercely competitive environment.
- Literal Image
- Plucking the eyes out of a living horse
- How to Use It
- Used to describe cutthroat business environments, intense urban competition, or the behavior of highly opportunistic individuals who act before others can react.
Meaning
This expression describes a situation or society where competition is so intense and people are so shrewd that one can never let their guard down. The imagery suggests a level of speed and cunning so extreme that someone could steal from you before you even realize what is happening.
Literal Image
Plucking the eyes out of a living horse
How to Use It
Used to describe cutthroat business environments, intense urban competition, or the behavior of highly opportunistic individuals who act before others can react.
Tone
Cautionary and critical of ruthlessness, while acknowledging high levels of shrewdness.
Examples
この業界は生き馬の目を抜くような激しい競争社会だ。
This industry is a cutthroat society where competition is so fierce it's like plucking the eyes out of a living horse.
都会は生き馬の目を抜くところだから、ぼんやりしていてはいけない。
The city is a place where you can't let your guard down for a second, so you shouldn't be absent-minded.
新興企業が生き馬の目を抜く勢いで市場シェアを奪っていった。
The startup snatched market share with the speed and ruthlessness of plucking a living horse's eyes.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
While the individual words like 'living horse' and 'eye' are simple, the metaphorical meaning and the overall construction are highly idiomatic.
生き馬
いきうま / ikiuma
living horse
目
め / me
eye
抜く
ぬく / nuku
to pluck out; to extract
Usage Profile
Usage note: This phrase carries a nuance of ruthlessness; use it to describe harsh environments rather than to praise someone's skills directly.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret this literally as a warning about animal cruelty; it is a metaphor for the extreme speed and cunning required in competitive societies.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
Derived from the image of being so incredibly fast and shrewd that one could pluck the eyes out of a horse while it is still alive, suggesting actions that are both swift and ruthless.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
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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.