天てん秤びんに掛かける
Meanings
Expression
Verb (1-dan)
Idiomatic
1. to weigh (one thing against another); to compare (the relative merits of two options); (lit.) to weigh (something) on scales
2. to try to have it both ways; to play a double game; to have two strings to one's bow
Kanji used
heaven
balancing scales
hang
Composed of
(balance) scales; carrying pole; shoulder pole; thread take-up lever (on a sewing machine); spreader bar
to hang up (e.g. a coat, a picture on the wall); to let hang; to put on (e.g. a blanket); to put on top of; to put on (glasses, etc.); to wear (a necklace, etc.); to make (a call)
Used in vocabulary (1 in total)
to try to have it both ways; to play a double game; to have two strings to one's bow