also: ゆでダコ · ゆでだこ
noun
boiled octopus
Literally octopus that has been boiled; a common food item in Japan, often used in takoyaki or salads.
茹でタコを薄く切ってサラダにのせた。
I sliced the boiled octopus thinly and put it on the salad.
noun
person with red flushed skin
Idiomatic comparison to the red color of boiled octopus; used for someone whose face or body is red from sunburn, embarrassment, or alcohol.
海で焼けて、まるで茹でタコみたいだ。
I got sunburned at the beach and look just like a boiled octopus.
Kanji spelling for 蛸; rarely used in modern writing.
Abbreviated kanji spelling; very rare.
Variant with voiced katakana; less common but seen.
タコ is the general word for octopus; 茹でタコ specifically refers to boiled octopus or the idiomatic red-faced person.
Compound of 茹で (boiled) + タコ (octopus). The idiomatic sense comes from the resemblance of red, flushed skin to the color of boiled octopus.