Question of the Day #1408

NM renewable energy advocates decry 'herky-jerky' policies

From the headline of this article at the Public News Service.

  上記の文で、herky-jerkyの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "herky-jerky" mean?

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明日、ここに答えを書きます。
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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

【形】
発作的に動く、ぎくしゃくした動きの

 問題の見出しの場合、意訳として「一貫性のない」「でたらめな」等がいいのではないかと思います。

 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

characterized by sudden, irregular, or unpredictable movement or style

 

Examples

1. The herky-jerky motion of the camera made the mobile phone video difficult to watch.
2. We enjoyed watching her imitate the herky-jerky dance moves of her favourite cartoon character.
3. Hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky, particularly for players such as Dončić, whose games rely on herky-jerky changes of speed and direction. —Law Murray, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2026
4. The way that life unfolds in herky-jerky, unpredictable rhythms informs the experimental approach that Dijon, a 33-year-old producer-singer, takes to R&B. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
5. It's a deliciously strange, herky-jerky pop number, orchestrated by synth bassoons and merry-go-round organs. - From BBC • Feb. 12, 2024

   

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Question of the Day #1407

MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT CATTY-CORNER FROM BELLAMONT RV PARK

From the headline of this article at Bellamont RV Park News.

  上記の文で、catty-cornerの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "catty-corner" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
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解答

意味：
英辞郎には、catty-corneredとして掲載されていますが、同じ意味です。

【形】
1. 対角線の、はすかいの、斜め向かいの
【副】
2. 対角を成して、対角的に、はすかいに

同じ意味でkitty-cornerとも言います。

 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

in a diagonal or oblique position

 

Examples

1. Our offices are next to the bank and catty-corner from McDonald's restaurant.
2. He approached the hospital catty-corner, through the parking lots.
3. Then she leant forwards – the cottage rooms were small, so our sofa and her chair were close to each other, catty-corner – and took my and Hifa’s clasped hands in hers.
4. The clothing shop is just catty-corner to our barracks.
-- What the Night Sings by Vesper Stamper
5. She’s just sitting at her desk, catty-corner to mine, with her hands clasped in front of her, and her thick dark braid twisting over her shoulder.
-- The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller

   

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Question of the Day #1406

In a pickle: 3 arrested, 115 kg of meth seized in B.C. shipment destined for Australia

From the headline of this article at the Northern Sentinel.

  上記の文で、in a pickleの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "in a pickle" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

《be ～》困っている、厄介なことになっている、困った立場に陥っている、苦境にある

なお、下記英語の定義にあるようにpickleの形容詞としてprettyやrightがしばしば使われます。

 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

In a troublesome or difficult situation. The adjectives "pretty" and "right" are commonly used before "pickle."

 

語源

英辞郎によると、

in de pekel zitten（漬け汁の中に座っている ⇒ どうすればよいのか分からない）というオランダ語のイディオムの直訳に由来する。

なお、下記Wiktionaryの英語の語源では、英語で初めて使用されたのがシェークスピアのThe Tempestのようです。

 

Etymology

According to Wiktionary:

The term refers to being in pickling solution, presumably unpleasant. It was first used in English by William Shakespeare in The Tempest (1611), although the phrase had been used in Dutch earlier.

   

Examples

1. Boy, am I in a pickle—I accidentally made plans to meet with two different clients today.
2. We're in a pretty pickle now because the hotel gave our room away.
3. Oh, we're in a pickle, all right! Just how are we going to explain this to the boss without getting fired?
4. He was likely in a pickle, what with Uncle Dan being ill and just one maid left to do the lot.
5. 2021 September 1, Taylor Lorenz, “She’s the Investor Guru for Online Creators”, in The New York Times‎[1], →ISSN:
   Cody Ko, a YouTube star with 5.7 million subscribers, found himself in a pickle in May.

   

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Question of the Day #1405

What it takes to put the pedal to the metal this winter

From the headline of this article at the CBC.

  上記の文で、put the pedal to the metalの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "put the pedal to the metal" mean?

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Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

〔自動車の〕ペダル［アクセル］を思い切り踏み込む、思い切り車の速度を上げる、全力で進む

Putの他にpress/push/keepを使うこともできます。

 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

1. to drive very fast
2. to work very quickly

 

Examples

1. It would normally take us three days driving to New York from Colorado, but with my brother putting the pedal to the metal, we made it in two.
2. We're going to be late—put the pedal to the metal!
3. Put the pedal to the metal, boys—we need to get these packages shipped by the end of the day.
4. Later, Brooks' brother alleged that racism helped put the pedal to the metal.
5. By the second half of the game, the Tigers had really started to put the pedal to the metal.

   

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Question of the Day #1404

About South County: Classless comments apropos of outgoing RIDOT director’s legacy

From the headline of this article at IndependentRI.com .

  上記の文で、aproposの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "apropos" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

【副】

1. 〈文〉適切に、折よく
2. 〈文〉さて、ところで

【形】

1. 〈文〉折よい、適切な

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

adjective

1. being both relevant and opportune

adverb

1. at an opportune time: SEASONABLY
2. by way of interjection or further comment : with regard to the present topic

 

Examples

1. The ceremony concluded with the reading of an apropos poem.
2. The comment, though unexpected, was apropos.
3. This short yet spacious and powerful book … reminds us of the careful and apropos writing of J. M. Coetzee, W. G. Sebald and Uwe Timm. —Thomas McGuane, New York Times Book Review, 24 June 2007
4. I went up to New York last weekend; apropos, have you seen your New York cousins lately?
5. Surefire Market is located where Leah & Louise used to be, and that seems apropos. —Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026

   

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Question of the Day #1403

Trump Offers Rose-Colored Glasses in Economic-Focused Speech

From the headline of this article at Bloomberg Government.

  上記の文で、rose-colored glassesの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "rose-colored glasses" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

楽観的な考え方◆【直訳】バラ色の眼鏡 ⇒ それを通すと全てがバラ色に見える。過剰な楽観の例え。

   

Answer

According to Dictionary.com:

a cheerful or optimistic view of things, usually without valid basis.

 

Examples

1. Optimists really do seem to look at the world through rose-colored glasses.
2. He saw life through rose-colored glasses.
3. Everyone on Wall Street supposedly was wearing rose-colored glasses back in early 2000. - From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
4. I don’t have blinders or rose-colored glasses on when it comes to the state of America and how race shapes the way people see the world. - From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2023
5. "That always happens when someone dies. People put on rose-colored glasses and talk about the good times." - From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon

   

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Question of the Day #1402

A Government that can ‘find money at the drop of a hat’ for one industry cannot seek restraint at pay talks, Sligo gathering hears

From the headline of this article at the Irish Independent.

  上記の文で、at the drop of a hatの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "at the drop of a hat" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

1. 合図一つで、早速、すぐさま
2. 〔ちょっとした機会があると〕ためらわずに、待ってましたと言わんばかりに

   

Answer

According to the Longman Dictionary:

immediately and without pausing to think about what you are going to do

 

Examples

1. Some of these corporations threaten to sue at the drop of a hat.
2. He's willing to organize anything guests want at the drop of a hat.
3. I hate to speak in public, but she’ll get up on stage at the drop of a hat.
4. India is one part of the world I would go to at the drop of a hat.
5. It could all just go to waste at the drop of a hat. - The Guardian (2021)

   

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