1.
to become defiant; to turn aggressive
to suddenly become confrontational or aggressive, especially when caught doing wrong
泥棒が居直った。
The thief turned aggressive.
注意したら居直ってきた。
When I warned them, they got aggressive.
居直り強盗に遭った。
I was victimized by a burglar who turned violent.
2.
to sit up straight; to change one's sitting position
to adjust from a relaxed position to a formal seated posture
姿勢を正して居直った。
I straightened my posture and sat up properly.
上司が来たので居直った。
I sat up straight because my boss came.
ゆっくり居直って座り直した。
I slowly adjusted my position and sat up properly.
TRANSITIVITY:
Intransitive (自動詞)
KEY COMPOUND:
居直り強盗 - a burglar who, when discovered, becomes violent and robs the victim. This is a recognized crime category in Japan.
NUANCE:
Sense 1 implies a sudden shift from being caught/defensive to being aggressive and confrontational. More aggressive than 開き直る, which is merely becoming defiant.
RELATED:
- 開き直る (to become defiant - less aggressive)
- 逆ギレ (getting angry when confronted)
- 座り直す (to sit up again)