1.
to breathe a sigh of relief; to feel relieved
An idiomatic expression meaning to feel greatly relieved after a period of anxiety or worry. Literally, 'to stroke one's chest downward' — a gesture of relief.
無事だと聞いて胸をなでおろした。
I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard everyone was safe.
試験に合格して、やっと胸をなでおろすことができた。
I finally felt relieved after passing the exam.
手術が成功したと医者から聞いて、家族全員が胸をなでおろした。
The whole family breathed a sigh of relief when the doctor said the surgery was successful.
USAGE:
The literal image is of stroking one's chest downward as a physical expression of relief, a gesture seen in Japanese culture when tension subsides. Almost always used in the past tense (胸をなでおろした) to describe the moment relief is felt. Can also be written with kanji as 胸を撫で下ろす.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 無事を聞いて胸をなでおろす (to feel relieved upon hearing someone is safe)
- やっと胸をなでおろす (to finally feel relieved)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- ほっとする: to feel relieved — simpler, more casual expression
- 安堵する: to feel relieved — more formal, literary alternative