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落とし前をつける (おとしまえをつける) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
settle a matter ; get even ; take responsibility
sensitive
Often used in underworld or rough contexts to mean settling a dispute or taking revenge, but can also mean taking responsibility for a mistake. The phrase carries a nuance of restoring balance or honor.
He quit the company to take responsibility for his failure.
Written forms 落お とし 前まえ をつける
Standard kanji spelling for this expression.
落お とし 前まえ を 付つ ける
Variant using 付ける; less common but still seen.
Kanji 付 adhere, attach, refer to Similar words けじめをつける けじめをつける means to draw a clear line or make a distinction, often in a moral or personal context, while 落とし前をつける implies settling a score or taking responsibility, often with a rougher nuance.
責せき 任にん を 取と る 責任を取る is a neutral, standard way to say 'take responsibility', whereas 落とし前をつける is more colloquial and can imply a forceful or honor-based settlement.
Etymology 落とし前 (おとしまえ) originally referred to money paid to settle a gambling debt or dispute, from 落とす (to lose) and 前 (portion). Combined with つける (to attach/settle), the phrase came to mean settling any kind of score or taking responsibility.
