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胸を撫で下ろす (むねをなでおろす) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

胸むねを撫なで下おろす

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-su)

feel relieved; be relieved

Idiomatic expression for the physical sensation of relief after worry or tension; literally 'stroke down one's chest'.

See also: 撫で下ろす

無ぶ事じだと聞きいて胸むねを撫なで下おろした。
I was relieved to hear that everyone was safe.

試し

験けん

が

終お

わっ

て

胸むね

を

撫な

で

下お

ろし

た

。

I felt relieved after the exam was over.

Written forms

胸むねを撫なで下おろす
Standard kanji spelling; 撫で下ろす is the core verb phrase.
胸むねをなで下おろす
Common mixed spelling; なで is often written in kana.
胸むねをなでおろす
All-kana spelling, natural in casual writing.

Kanji

胸bosom, breast, chest
撫stroke, pat, smooth down
下below, down, descend

Similar words

ほっとする
More general and casual expression for relief; 胸を撫で下ろす emphasizes the physical gesture and is slightly more literary.
安あん心しんする
Standard verb for 'feel at ease'; 胸を撫で下ろす is more vivid and idiomatic.

Etymology

From the gesture of stroking one's chest downward to calm oneself; the phrase is a set expression in modern Japanese.