1.
to frame someone; to falsely accuse; to pin the blame on
To make an innocent person appear guilty of something they did not do. Literally means "to put wet clothes on someone" — an idiom originating from the idea of being unjustly burdened.
濡れ衣 literally means "wet clothes." The idiom comes from the unpleasant and burdensome feeling of wearing wet clothing — representing the weight of false accusations.
Common expressions
- 濡れ衣を着せる — to frame someone (active: the accuser's action)
- 濡れ衣を着せられる — to be framed (passive: the victim's experience)
- 濡れ衣を着る — to be falsely accused (the victim "wears" the false charge)
- 濡れ衣を晴らす — to clear one's name
The passive form 着せられる is very common, since speakers more often describe being a victim of false accusation than accusing others.
Related Words
Compare:
罪を被せる (to pin a crime on someone)