1.
pretending to be out; feigning absence
The act of being at home but pretending not to be, typically to avoid answering the door or dealing with a visitor.
居留守を使った。
I pretended to be out.
知らない人が来たので居留守を使った。
A stranger came, so I pretended not to be home.
セールスマンが来るたびに居留守を使っているので、最近は来なくなった。
Since I pretend to be out every time a salesperson comes, they've stopped coming lately.
A uniquely expressive Japanese word with no direct English equivalent. Composed of 居る (to be present) + 留守 (being away from home) — a paradoxical compound meaning "to be present but absent." Almost exclusively used in the set phrase 居留守を使う.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 居留守を使う: to pretend to be out
- 居留守を決め込む: to firmly pretend to be out (more emphatic)
USAGE:
Most commonly used when avoiding door-to-door salespeople, unwanted visitors, or debt collectors. The act is considered slightly dishonest but widely understood and practiced. Modern intercom systems with cameras have made 居留守 easier — you can check who is at the door before deciding whether to answer.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 留守: absence from home — genuinely being away, not pretending
- 留守番: house-sitting; staying home to watch the house — actively staying home while others are out