Tsuba wo Tsukeru (唾をつける)

There is a Japanese idiom, "tsuba wo tsukeru" (唾をつける).

The "tsuba" (唾) means "spit" and the "tsukeru" (つける) means "to put on," so the literal meaning of the combination is "to put your spit on something."

Originally this idiom was mainly used for food.

Just imagine - you don't want to eat food wet with someone's spit, do you?

Therefore, "tsuba wo tsukeru" means to do something in advance in order to prevent other people from getting what you want.

Incidentally, if you add "mayuni" (眉に - on your eyebrow) and say "mayuni tsuba wo tsukeru" (or "mayutsuba" for short), the meaning will differ substantially from this idiom.

You can check the meaning of "mayutsuba" on the following URL.
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/35103209355274424265303829210995655726

唾をつける

日本語には、「唾をつける」という慣用句があります。

「唾」は "spit," 「つける」は "to put on" を意味するので、「唾をつける」の文字通りの意味は "to put your spit on" です。

もともとこの言葉は、主に食べ物に対して使われていたようです。

誰かの唾がつけられた食べ物は、食べたくありませんよね。

つまり「唾をつける」とは、欲しいものを他の人にとられないように、前もって手を打つことを意味します。

ちなみに、頭に「眉に」をつけて「眉に唾を付ける」（もしくは略して「眉唾」）と言うと、意味が大きく異なるので注意して下さい。
（「眉唾」の意味は下記URLを参照）

• There is a Japanese idiom, "tsuba wo tsukeru" (唾をつける).
• There is a Japanese idiom,: "tsuba wo tsukeru" (唾をつける).

• The "tsuba" (唾) means "spit" and the "tsukeru" (つける) means "to put on," so the literal meaning of the combination is "to put your spit on something."
• The "tsuba" (唾) means "spit" and the "tsukeru" (つける) means "to put on," so the literal meaning of the combination is "to put your spit on something."

  This sentence has no errors, but it may be more natural to use "phrase" or "idiom" instead of "combination" in this case.

• Originally this idiom was mainly used for food.
• Originally, this idiom was mainly used for food.

• Just imagine - you don't want to eat food wet with someone's spit, do you?
• Just imagine - you don'twouldn't want to eat food wet with someone's spit, dowould you?

  Since this is a hypothetical situation, it is more appropriate to use "wouldn't/would".

• Therefore, "tsuba wo tsukeru" means to do something in advance in order to prevent other people from getting what you want.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Incidentally, if you add "mayuni" (眉に - on your eyebrow) and say "mayuni tsuba wo tsukeru" (or "mayutsuba" for short), the meaning will differ substantially from this idiom.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• You can check the meaning of "mayutsuba" on the following URL.
• You can check the meaning of "mayutsuba" onat the following URL.:

You have amazing English! There were only very small errors - some of which I feel even native English users might make - and the flow seems to be very natural. Thanks for the interesting and educational post!