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GRAMMAR
〜とばかりに
as if to say
Explanation
NOTE

〜とばかりに means as if to say — someone acts as though they were saying something, without actually speaking.

彼かれは「帰かえれ」とばかりに指ゆびでドアを指さした。
As if to say "go home," he pointed at the door with his finger.
NOTE

It is formal and literary. The action vividly shows the feeling, almost as loud as words would.

犬いぬは早はやく散歩さんぽに行いきたいとばかりに尾おを振ふった。
The dog wagged its tail as if to say it wanted to go for a walk soon.
The action expresses an inner thought that is never spoken aloud.
NOTE

Attach とばかりに after a quoted phrase or a verb in plain form, treating the words as an unspoken message.

STRUCTURE
V普
とばかりに
彼女かのじょは早はやく始はじめようとばかりに時計とけいを見みた。
Kanojo wa hayaku hajimeyou to bakari ni tokei o mita.
She looked at the clock as if to say we should start soon.
子供こどもは嫌いやだとばかりに首くびを横よこに振ふった。
Kodomo wa iya da to bakari ni kubi o yoko ni futta.
The child shook his head as if to say he did not want to.
店員てんいんはもう閉しめるとばかりに電気でんきを消けした。
Ten'in wa mou shimeru to bakari ni denki o keshita.
The clerk turned off the lights as if to say the shop was closing.
彼はは「帰かえれ」とばかりに、時計とけいを見みた。
Kare wa 'kaere' to bakari ni, tokei o mita.
He looked at his watch as if to say, 'Go home.'
彼女かのじょは怒おこった顔かおで、部屋へやを出でて行いったとばかりに、ドアを強つよく閉しめた。
Kanojo wa okotta kao de, heya o dete itta to bakari ni, doa o tsuyoku shimeta.
With an angry look, she slammed the door as if to say she was leaving the room.
その猫ねこは魚さかなを欲ほしががって、私わたしの足あしにすり寄よるとばかりに、鳴なき続つづけた。
Sono neko wa sakana o hoshigatte, watashi no ashi ni suriyoru to bakari ni, nakitsudzuketa.
The cat kept meowing as if to say it wanted some fish while rubbing against my legs.

Practice exercises

1
彼かれは「話はなすな」とばかりに、鋭するどく私わたしを睨にらんだ。
He glared at me intently as if to say "Don't speak!"
Answer
とばかりに
2
彼かれは「任まかせろ」とばかりに、胸むねを叩たたいた。
He thumped his chest as if to say "Leave it to me!"
Answer
とばかりに
3
彼かれは「勝かった」とばかりに、拳こぶしを高々たかだかと振ふり上あげた。
He raised his fist high as if to say "I won!"
Answer
とばかりに
4
感謝かんしゃしきれないとばかりに、彼かれは深ふかく頭あたまを下さげた。
He bowed deeply as if to say he could never thank them enough.
Answer
とばかりに
5
彼女かのじょは「話はなすまい」とばかりに頑かたくなに口くちを閉とざした。
She stubbornly shut her mouth as if to say "I will not speak."
Answer
とばかりに
6
彼かれは帰かえれとばかりに手てを振ふった。
He waved his hand as if to say "go home."
Answer
とばかりに
7
母ははは早はやく寝ねなさいとばかりに電気でんきを消けした。
My mother turned off the lights as if to say "go to bed soon."
Answer
とばかりに
8
彼女かのじょは勝かったとばかりに笑わらった。
She smiled as if to say she had won.
Answer
とばかりに