びんぼうくじ

貧乏鬮
unlucky number
blank
bad bargain

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びんぼうくじ【貧乏籤】

a blank; a losing lot [ticket]; an unlucky number.

●貧乏くじを引く draw a bad lot [short straw]; 〔お人好しで〕 《米》 be made a fall guy; be left holding the sack [bag]; 〔損をする〕 get the worst of the deal [short end of the stick]

・貧乏くじを引いて責任を負わされる be left holding the bag [sack] (and having to take the blame)

・お人好しのせいか, 彼はいつも貧乏くじを引いている. He is always having his good nature taken advantage of.

・定数 30 の議席に立候補者 31. 貧乏くじを引くのは果たしてだれか. There are 31 candidates for the 30 seats: who will be left holding the short straw?