255Japanese idiom 四字熟語
手前味噌
てまえみそTemae miso
“Praising one's own miso.”
The meaning
Every house made its own miso and naturally found it better than the neighbor's. The phrase still serves as a smiling apology before a small boast.
At the origin
From the days of homemade miso; people still say "temae miso desu ga…" before a self-compliment.
The characters
In practice
When you praise your own work, say so frankly — the admission disarms.
Themes
Similar proverbs
- 011 上手の手から水が漏れる Even skilled hands let water slip through.
- 129 下手の横好き Unskilled, but devoted.
- 223 やれ打つな蠅が手をすり足をする Don't swat it! The fly wrings its hands, wrings its feet.
- 226 夏河を越すうれしさよ手に草履 What happiness, crossing the summer river, sandals in hand!
- 256 猫の手も借りたい One would even borrow the cat's paws.