隔靴掻痒

かっかそうよう· also かくかそうよう

being frustrated because something is not quite as hoped (just as one cannot scratch an itch from outside a shoe); having an itch that one cannot scratch

Also written 隔靴搔痒

Meanings

Noun
being frustrated because something is not quite as hoped (just as one cannot scratch an itch from outside a shoe); having an itch that one cannot scratchFour-character idiom

Example sentences

もっと単刀直入たんとうちょくにゅうに言いってくれないかな。隔靴掻痒かっかそうようの感かんなきにしもあらずだよ。

You don't have to leave me hanging like this. Why don't you just come out and tell it to me straight?