知恵(ちえ)を絞(しぼ)る

ちえをしぼる
expression
to rack one's brains; to think hard
cognition
1. to rack one's brains; to think hard; to squeeze out every idea
To exert maximum mental effort to come up with a solution or idea. The image is of wringing out wisdom like wringing out a cloth. Used when a difficult problem requires creative thinking.
みんなで知恵(ちえ)を絞(しぼ)った。
Everyone racked their brains together.
予算(よさん)が少(すく)ない中(なか)、知恵(ちえ)を絞(しぼ)って工夫(くふう)した。
With a limited budget, we racked our brains and found creative solutions.
どうすれば売(う)り上(あ)げを伸(の)ばせるか、チーム全員(ぜんいん)で知恵(ちえ)を絞(しぼ)っているところだ。
The whole team is racking their brains about how to increase sales.

Usage

A common idiomatic expression conveying the image of squeezing out every last drop of wisdom. Often used in group problem-solving contexts.

Common patterns

Similar words

  • 頭(あたま)をひねる: to puzzle over something — similar but emphasizes the difficulty of thinking rather than the effort of extracting ideas

Related Words

Compare: 工夫(くふう)を凝(こ)らす (to devise cleverly)
general
Added 2026.3.20 11:40 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31
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