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I'm not sure if this off-topic for this site but I would like to know what
"正宗で大根を切る。 言い出しっぺ。" means. I tried translating it through google but I don't
think it translated it properly. I found this on a user's profile.

Thanks!
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2013-04-21T23:03:22.590
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question
translation
What does 正宗で大根を切る。 言い出しっぺ。 mean?
「大根{だいこん}を正宗{まさむね}で切る{きる}。」 essentially means "Using a precious sword ([a
Masamune](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masamune)) to cut an everyday daikon."
It's [an example](http://kotowaza-allguide.com/ta/daikonwomasamunedekiru.html)
of using something very important for something mundane. For example, if
someone earned a [Doctor of
Philosophy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Philosophy) but the only
job they ended up doing after graduation involved teaching a kindergarten
class, this expression could be used.

「言{い}い出{だ}しっぺ」 is an expression that has to do with the [idea](http://zokugo-
dict.com/02i/iidasippe.htm) that if a speaker initially brings up an issue in
conversation (or initially puts the blame of something on someone else,) it
probably means that the problem lies with the speaker. In other words, _"He
who smelt it, dealt it."_
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2013-04-21T23:45:33.723
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answer