Japanese idiom - business setting

Japanese has some interesting idioms that can be used to make your spoken language sound even more impressive.

Today's idiom is great to use in a business setting.

Today's phrase : 足元（あしもと）を見る (みる）

What does that mean?

「足元（あしもと）を見る」means to find the opponent's weak point and take advantage of it.

In business, it is sometimes used when negotiating prices.

◆ 例文 / Example sentence :

その若い人はとても世間知らずだったので、セールスマンは足元を見て高い料金を請求した。

その若（わか）い人（ひと）はとても世間（せけん）知（し）らずだったので、セールスマンは足元（あしもと）を見（み）て高（たか）い料金（りょうきん）を請求（せいきゅう）した。

As the young man was so naive,the sales person demanded a high rate taking advantage of his weakness.

◆ New Vocabulary

世間（せけん）知らず　naive

◆ 語源　etymology :

The word 「足元を見る」comes from such customs as judging a traveler's feet by how dirty they are, and the dirtier they are, the more tired they are.

Good luck with your studies!