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居留守をする
itomeru su o suru◆idiom
pretend not to be home
「ごめん、今忙しいから」と言って、彼は居留守をした。
Saying, 'Sorry, I'm busy now,' he pretended not to be home.
informal
To pretend not to be at home when someone visits, often to avoid meeting them.
「誰か来たけど、居留守をしていたので出なかった。」
Someone came over, but I pretended not to be home so I didn't answer.
「彼が居留守をするのは、会いたくないからだと思う。」
I think he pretends not to be home because he doesn't want to meet people.
Commonly used when avoiding visitors or unwanted guests. Often implies a deliberate choice to ignore a knock or call.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Cultural Note
In Japan, it is considered polite to greet visitors, so pretending not to be home is seen as avoiding social responsibility. This phrase reflects a cultural nuance where direct refusal can be softened by feigning absence.
Gold Rule
When to Use
Use 居留守をする when someone deliberately avoids meeting visitors by pretending not to be home. It is not used for general absence or when someone is truly not at home.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 居る (iru, 'to be present') and 留守 (rusu, 'absence') with をする (o suru, 'to do'). The idiom emerged in the Edo period (1603–1868) as a euphemism for avoiding visitors by feigning absence.
Usage Notes
This phrase is often used humorously or critically. It implies a social strategy to avoid interaction, which may be seen as rude in some contexts. The verb する (suru) indicates the act of performing this behavior.
Word Breakdown
居る
to be present
verb留守
absence
nounをする
to perform the action of
verb phrase和英辞典