肩肘

かたひじ【肩肘】

¶ → 肩肘張る

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かたひじ【肩肘】

the [one's] shoulders and elbows.

肩肘張る 〔気負う〕 be determined not to be made a fool of; be defensive; be on the defensive; refuse to [be determined not to] yield; 〔いばる〕 swagger; 《口》 act big; 〔堅苦しい態度を取る〕 act stiffly and formally.

●そんなに肩肘張って暮らすのはやめて, もっとのんきにやったらどうだ. Why don't you stop being so uncompromising [unyielding] and learn to live in a more relaxed way?

・今思えば, 当時は年上の部下に侮られないようにと, ずいぶん肩肘張って仕事をしていた. Looking back on it, I realize I was acting the big man [putting up a tough front] a lot at the time, determined to avoid looking a fool in front of the older people working under me.