I've just spent the last couple of days playing tourist in Paris (on a short stopover en route back to Zürich from western France). I had a very packed agenda, since one purpose of my trip was to do some research for my food blogs, especially Just Hungry. I walked around so much that my legs feel really heavy and tired.
Which leads to today's phrase:
足が棒になる あしがぼうになる ashi ga bou ni naru
- (My) legs become sticks. Meaning: To walk around for so long that ones legs feel tired and heavy, like big sticks. It can also mean that you've done something to the point of exhaustion.
Example: パリ観光は楽しいけど、足が棒になる。パリかんこうはたのしいけど、あしがぼうになる。
Pari kankou wa tanoshii kedo, ashi ga bou ni naru.
- Paris sightseeing is fun, but my legs become sticks (= I walk around so much that I become exhausted).
*Note that in Japanese Paris is 'pari'
Another way this is used is like this:
足を棒にして あしをぼうにして ashi o bou ni shite -
- To walk around doing something persistently, until the legs turn into heavy sticks
Example: 足を棒にして買い物をする。あしをぼうにしてかいものをする。ashi o bou ni shite kaimono o suru
- To walk around shopping, until the legs turn into heavy sticks, or to shop 'till you drop.
Example 2: あの作家は足を棒にして本の下調べをする。あのさっかはあしをぼうにしてほんのしたしらべをする。Ano sakka wa ashi o bou ni shite hon no shitashirabe o suru.
- That author walks around until his legs are heavy sticks, doing research for his book = the implication is that that author is very thorough.
So, next time you get exhausted from walking around, point out that your legs have become sticks!
