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槍玉に挙げる (やりだまにあげる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
make an example of ; single out for criticism ; hold up to ridicule
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression meaning to publicly criticize or blame someone, often as a scapegoat or to make an example of them. Used in contexts like politics, media, or group dynamics.
メディア は いつも 誰だれ か を 槍やり 玉だま に 挙あ げ たがる 。
The media always wants to single someone out for criticism.
2
expression, ichidan verb
pierce with a spear
Literal, rare meaning. Almost never used in modern Japanese; the idiomatic sense is overwhelmingly more common.
Written forms 槍やり 玉だま に 挙あ げる
Standard kanji spelling for the idiomatic expression.
槍やり 玉だま にあげる
Common kana-mixed variant; あげる is often written in kana.
槍やり 玉だま に 上あ げる
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; 上げる is not standard for this expression.
Similar words 吊つる し 上あ げる Means to gang up on someone and criticize them, often in a group setting. 槍玉に挙げる focuses more on singling out a target for public blame or ridicule.
スケープゴート A loanword meaning scapegoat. 槍玉に挙げる is the action of making someone a scapegoat, while スケープゴート is the person themselves.
Etymology Originally a literal phrase meaning 'to raise on a spear', from 槍 (spear) + 玉 (ball, here metaphorically a head or target) + に挙げる (to raise up). The idiomatic sense of singling out for criticism developed from the image of impaling someone's head on a spear as a public display.
