眉唾(まゆつば)

まゆつば
noun
dubious story; something fishy
abstractcommunication
1. dubious story; something fishy; suspect claim
Something that sounds too good or too strange to be true, and therefore should be doubted. Often used about rumors, get-rich-quick claims, or exaggerated stories.
その話(はなし)は眉唾(まゆつば)だ。
That story is fishy.
眉唾(まゆつば)物(もの)の情報(じょうほう)が多(おお)い。
There's a lot of dubious information out there.
確実(かくじつ)に儲(もう)かるという話(はなし)は眉唾(まゆつば)だと思(おも)ったほうがいい。
You should treat any story about guaranteed profits as fishy.

Literally 眉(まゆ) (eyebrow) + 唾(つば) (spit/saliva). From an old folk belief that wetting one's eyebrows with saliva prevented one from being bewitched by foxes — so a 'mayutsuba' story is one you should guard yourself against believing.

Common collocations

  • 眉唾(まゆつば)だ: it's fishy / dubious
  • 眉唾(まゆつば)物(もの): a dubious story; a suspect claim
  • 眉唾(まゆつば)な話(はなし): a fishy story

Similar words

  • 怪(あや)しい: suspicious; strange — broader, can describe people or behavior
  • 胡散臭(うさんくさ)い: shady; smells fishy — about appearance or vibe, not specifically about claims
  • ガセ: false rumor; hoax — slang, focuses on the falseness rather than the suspicion

Related Words

Compare: 怪(あや)しい (suspicious)
Compare: 胡散臭(うさんくさ)い (shady)
Compare: 話(はなし)半分(はんぶん) (taking a story with a grain of salt)
general
Added 2026.6.6 11:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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