竜頭蛇尾(りゅうとうだび)

りゅうとうだび
noun, expression
anticlimax; strong start, weak finish
1. anticlimax; strong start, weak finish
Starting something impressively but ending weakly, like a creature with a dragon's head but a snake's tail.
あの映画(えいが)は竜頭蛇尾(りゅうとうだび)だった。
That movie was anticlimactic—it started strong but ended weakly.
計画(けいかく)が竜頭蛇尾(りゅうとうだび)に終(お)わった。
The plan ended in anticlimax.
竜頭蛇尾(りゅうとうだび)にならないように最後(さいご)まで頑張(がんば)ろう。
Let's work hard until the end so it doesn't fizzle out.

FOUR-CHARACTER IDIOM (四字熟語(よじじゅくご)):
竜頭(りゅうとう) (dragon's head) + 蛇尾(だび) (snake's tail)

MEANING:
Describes anything that starts impressively but ends disappointingly—projects, speeches, novels, performances, etc.

COMMON PATTERNS:

CONTRAST:
The opposite concept would be something that builds to a strong finish, though there isn't a standard four-character idiom for this.

general
Added 2026.1.17 12:44 · Revised 2026.6.14 0:21
06000/06119_ryuutoudabi