(Higuchi Ichiyou)

団栗の背比べ
(Donguri no seikurabe; “A height-measuring contest between acorns”)

Definition:

A group where none of the members particularly stand out from the rest. A collection of average types. Alternately, a pointless competition between people of no special ability; a pissing contest. Like comparing acorns, which are all about equally small.

Breakdown:

This noun phrase begins with the noun 団栗 (donguri), “acorn.” This is followed by 背 (various pronunciations; here sei), “back,” which joins together with 比ぶ (kurabu), “to compare,” acting as a noun in conjunctive form. The associative particle の (no) links the two halves of the whole.

Notes:

Kurabe can be written 競べ without any change in meaning or pronunciation.

This phrase apparently comes to us from Kaozheng scholar Qian Daxin (銭大昕), in a work called 恒言録 (Héng yán lù, Japanese pronunciation unclear but probably Kougenroku)

Example sentence:

「今年の予備選挙の候補者達は団栗の背比べで、ちょっと意気消沈してしまった」

(“Kotoshi no yobisenkyo no kouhosha-tachi wa donguri no seikurabe de, chotto ikishouchin shite shimatta.”)

[“The candidates in this year’s primary race are all just average; it’s kind of a let-down.”]