掌を返す

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
掌	返
てのひら Grade: S	かえ Grade: 3
kun’yomi

Alternative spellings
手のひらを返す 手の平を返す

Idiom

掌(てのひら)を返(かえ)す • (tenohira o kaesu) 

1. to flip-flop; to do an about-face; to flip over one's hand

   彼女(かのじょ)の(の)態(たい)度(ど)は掌(てのひら)を返(かえ)すように変(か)える。

   Kanojo no taido wa tenohira o kaesu yō ni kaeru.

   Her attitude changes suddenly.

Etymology 2

Compare Chinese 易如反掌 (yì rú fǎn zhǎng)

Kanji in this term
掌	返
たなごころ Grade: S	かえ Grade: 3
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
掌を反す

Idiom

掌(たなごころ)を返(かえ)す • (tanagokoro o kaesu) 

1. to do something easy as turning one's hand over

   この問題(もんだい)は君(きみ)にとって掌(たなごころ)を返(かえ)すようだ。

   Kono mondai wa kimi ni totte tanagokoro o kaesu yō da.

   This problems seems as easy as turning one’s hand over for you.

2. to flip-flop; to do an about-face; to flip over one's hand