でばなをくじく

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Okusan: "Maa anata, doo nassatta no?"
Yamada-san: "Iyaa, debana o kujikareta yo. Kyoo mada kaisha yasumi datta."

* * *

Mrs. Yamada: What happened?
Mr. Yamada: There I was - all set to start work today - but the office is still closed for the holidays.

* * *

Like many of his compatriots, perhaps, Mr. Yamada was unable to stop thinking of his work, even during the New Year holidays.
Certain that today was the first day back at the office, he made an early and eager start, briefcase in hand, only to find that he was a day to early. Hence his sheepish expresion when, thoroughly deflated, he returned home to confront his astonished wife.
"Debana o kujikareru" is to have one's efforts frustrated at an early stage or "to have the wind taken out of one's sails."
"Debana o kujiku" is to take the wind from someone else's sails.