地雷を踏む[jirai o fumu]: push someone's button

June 8, 2020

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It originally means "to step on a land mine". It also means "to push someone's button" and it is used when you intentionally/unintentionally say something that offends someone.

Ken and Leo are gossiping about Meg.

  • Ken : Do you know why Meg is grumpy today? I just asked her if she will take her boyfriend to the party tomorrow, but she ignored me.
    なんで今日メグは機嫌が悪いの?明日のパーティーに彼氏を連れて来るか聞いただけなのに、無視された。
  • Leo : Oh, I guess you pushed her button. She broke up with him a few days ago because he cheated on her.
    あっ、地雷を踏んだかもね。彼氏が浮気して、数日前に別れたんだよ。
  • Ken : You should've told me that before.
    言ってよー。
Meg is about to ask Tom when he will finish his tasks.

  • Amy : Are you going to talk to Tom?
    トムと話すの?
  • Meg : Yes. I'm wondering if he will finish his tasks in an hour.
    うん。あと一時間で作業が終わるかどうか、気になって。
  • Amy : Some colleagues asked him about the same thing. And he promised to wrap up those tasks quickly. I think that he is very busy and he is a bit irritated.
    何人かが、同じ事を聞いていた。トムはすぐに終わらすって言っていたよ。忙しくて、ちょっとイライラしているみたい。
  • Meg : Thank you for letting me know. I was almost about to do something wrong.
    教えてくれてありがとう。もう少しで、地雷を踏むところだった。

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