首(くび)を長(なが)くする

くびをながくする
expression
to wait eagerly; to look forward to
idiomemotion
1. to wait eagerly for; to look forward to impatiently
To wait impatiently for something one is looking forward to; literally 'to make one's neck long', craning to see whether it is coming. Almost always in the て-form before 待(ま)つ: 首(くび)を長(なが)くして待(ま)つ.
子供(こども)たちは夏休(なつやす)みを首(くび)を長(なが)くして待(ま)っている。
The children are eagerly waiting for summer vacation.
注文(ちゅうもん)した本(ほん)が届(とど)くのを首(くび)を長(なが)くして待(ま)った。
I waited impatiently for the book I ordered to arrive.
祖母(そぼ)は孫(まご)が遊(あそ)びに来(く)る日(ひ)を、毎年(まいとし)首(くび)を長(なが)くして待(ま)っている。
Every year my grandmother eagerly awaits the day her grandchildren come to visit.

Literally 'to lengthen the neck', stretching to see whether what one is waiting for has appeared. Almost always 首(くび)を長(なが)くして待(ま)つ.

Common patterns

  • 首(くび)を長(なが)くして待(ま)つ: to wait eagerly
  • 首(くび)を長(なが)くして待(ま)っています: I'm really looking forward to it (in letters and messages)

Similar words

Related Words

Related: 首(くび) (neck)
Related: 待(ま)つ (to wait)
Compare: 待(ま)ち遠(どお)しい (long-awaited, can hardly wait)
Compare: 楽(たの)しみにする (to look forward to)
general
Added 2026.9.10 0:45 · Revised 2026.9.10 0:54
30500/30824_kubiwonagakusuru