喉(のど)から手(て)が出(で)る

のどからてがでる
expression
to want desperately; to be dying for
idiomemotion
1. to want something desperately
Extreme desire for something just out of reach; literally 'a hand comes out of the throat' to grab it. Almost always in the form 喉(のど)から手(て)が出(で)るほど欲(ほ)しい, 'want it so much that a hand comes out of one's throat.'
喉(のど)から手(て)が出(で)るほど欲(ほ)しい。
I want it so badly I can hardly stand it.
あの時計(とけい)は喉(のど)から手(て)が出(で)るほど欲(ほ)しかったが、高(たか)すぎて買(か)えなかった。
I wanted that watch desperately, but it was too expensive to buy.
優秀(ゆうしゅう)な技術者(ぎじゅつしゃ)は、どの会社(かいしゃ)も喉(のど)から手(て)が出(で)るほど欲(ほ)しがっている人材(じんざい)だ。
Skilled engineers are the kind of people every company is desperate to get.

Literally 'a hand comes out of the throat': the wanting is so strong that a hand reaches out from inside to grab the thing. Almost always with ほど and 欲(ほ)しい.

Common patterns

  • 喉(のど)から手(て)が出(で)るほど欲(ほ)しい: to want desperately
  • 喉(のど)から手(て)が出(で)るほど欲(ほ)しがる: (someone) is desperate to get

Similar words

  • 欲(ほ)しくてたまらない: to want unbearably — a plain intensifier, without the image
  • 目(め)がない: to have a weakness for — a standing fondness rather than an acute craving

Related Words

Related: 喉(のど) (throat)
Related: 欲(ほ)しい (wanted)
Compare: 目(め)がない (to have a weakness for)
general
Added 2026.9.10 0:45 · Revised 2026.9.10 0:54
30500/30832_nodokarategaderu