Getting a price cut without negotiating? Not so fast.
一夜漬けで満点を取るつもりか。そうは問屋が卸さない。
Expect full marks after one night of study? Not so fast.
近道だけで腕が上がると思っても、そうは問屋が卸さない。
If you think shortcuts alone make you skilled, it will not be that easy.
相手を甘く見て勝てると思うな。そうは問屋が卸さない。
Do not think you can win by underestimating them; it will not be that easy.
独り占めするつもりだろうが、そうは問屋が卸さないぞ。
You may plan to keep it all, but not so fast.
Similar words
そうはいかない
思いどおりにはならない
Meanings
It will not be that easy
expectations
informal
The speaker rejects someone’s convenient expectation and says things will not go their way so easily.
Examples
一夜漬けで満点を取るつもりか。そうは問屋が卸さない。
Expect full marks after one night of study? Not so fast.
相手を甘く見て勝てると思うな。そうは問屋が卸さない。
Do not think you can win by underestimating them; it will not be that easy.
交渉なしで値下げさせようとは、そうは問屋が卸さない。
Getting a price cut without negotiating? Not so fast.
近道だけで腕が上がると思っても、そうは問屋が卸さない。
If you think shortcuts alone make you skilled, it will not be that easy.
独り占めするつもりだろうが、そうは問屋が卸さないぞ。
You may plan to keep it all, but not so fast.
Similar words
そうはいかない
思いどおりにはならない
Etymology
Literally “the wholesaler will not sell it that way”; a merchant refusing a buyer’s convenient terms becomes a metaphor for reality refusing easy wishes.
FAQ
What does そうは問屋が卸さない mean?
The speaker rejects someone’s convenient expectation and says things will not go their way so easily.
How do you read そうは問屋が卸さない?
It is read そうはとんやがおろさない, written sō wa ton'ya ga orosanai.
When would you use そうは問屋が卸さない?
A lightly witty retort to an overly convenient plan; it may signal that the speaker will resist.
How is そうは問屋が卸さない different from そうはいかない?
そうはいかない states the same refusal plainly; this proverb adds a wry, proverbial tone.
How does そうは問屋が卸さない change in a sentence?
This fixed expression keeps its core wording; the examples show how it fits into a sentence.
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