鯖を読む

From a supposedly common act of fishmongers who forge or misrepresent the amount of 鯖 (“mackerel”) they sell in a bulk.

• (Tokyo) さばをよむ [sàbá ó yóꜜmù] (Nakadaka – [4])
• IPA^(key): [sa̠ba̠ o̞ jo̞mɯ̟]

鯖(さば)を読(よ)む • (saba o yomu) godan (stem 鯖(さば)を読(よ)み (saba o yomi), past 鯖(さば)を読(よ)んだ (saba o yonda))

1. (idiomatic) manipulate figures to one's advantage, especially one's own age, height, or weight

When used about age, it normally is about presenting oneself as younger than their actual age.

• 鯖読(さばよ)み (sabayomi, “manipulation of figures”)
• 逆鯖(ぎゃくさば) (gyakusaba, “presenting oneself as older than their actual age”)