Question of the Day #1443

This is your brain on spring fever

From the headline of this article at NBC News.

  上記の文で、spring feverの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "spring fever" 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：
英辞郎によると、

スプリング・フィーバー◆春先になって（性的）エネルギーが高まってホルモンのバランスが崩れ、それが身体および精神にさまざまな症状となって現れるもの。症状が強く表れるものは季節性情動障害(SAD)に分類される。一方で、エネルギーが低下して鬱状態になる場合もスプリング・フィーバーと呼ばれる。

とかなり難しく書いてありますが、一般的には下記の英語の定義の意味になります。すなわち、「暖かい春の訪れとともに生じる、落ち着きのない興奮や高揚感。」

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

A feeling of often restless excitement or exuberance coinciding with the onset of warmer spring weather.

 

Examples

1. It's hard enough keeping control of a class full of young children throughout the year, but it's particularly difficult once spring fever starts to spread.
2. It's wonderful seeing the city touched by spring fever, coming alive again after the deadening winter.
3. For almost everyone, spring fever triggers the inspiration to improve the landscape. — Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 Jan. 2026
4. On a warm Sunday afternoon in February, the Huntington Library was packed with Lunar New Year festivities and early spring fever. From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2026
5. "The fish are mainly being caught in Vancouver area, and effort is starting to build so people are getting spring fever," Hymer said. From Seattle Times ● Feb. 28, 2013

   

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Question of the Day #1442

Taste and chemical tests reveal off-putting compounds in beer

From the headline of this article at Chemical & Engineering News.

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

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

【形】
〈英話〉不快感［嫌な感じ］を起こさせる、不快な、当惑させる、困惑させる、反感を覚えさせる

   

Answer

According to the Cambridge Dictionary:

slightly unpleasant or worrying so that you do not want to get involved in any way

 

Examples

1. He's slightly aggressive, which a lot of people find off-putting when they first meet him.
2. At that time, downloading was slow, and off-putting to students.
3. After bedbugs, roaches, and rat infestations, murky tap water is among the most off-putting experiences in New York City apartment living. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 5 Aug. 2026
4. Toughness in a man can be seen as abrasive or off-putting in a women. — Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
5. Elon Musk had perhaps the most bizarre and off-putting response. — Constance Grady, Vox, 12 Sep. 2024

   

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Question of the Day #1441

This Story Is 'The Cat's Meow!'

From the headline of this article at VOA News.

  上記の文で、cat's meowの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "cat's meow" 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、

《the ～》〈俗〉素晴らしい［最高の］人［もの］◆【同】cat's whiskers

Cat's meowやcat's whiskersの他に、cat's pajamasも同じ意味です。

 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

used to say that someone or something is very appealing

 

Examples

1. I really like that car; it's the cat's meow.
2. Sandhu responded with a cat's meow that became an instant internet meme, while Harvey received criticism on Twitter for the question. — Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2021
3. And to think, the typical 14-year-old thinks they’re the cat’s meow when they level up in Elden Ring. From Seattle Times ● Mar. 4, 2022
4. If your children are fans of all things furry and feline, then this event in and around the Asbury Park Convention Hall is, well, the cat’s meow. From New York Times ● Apr. 11, 2019
5. For her, that vintage dress was the cat’s meow — she wore it proudly to every special occasion.

   

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Question of the Day #1440

Niagara Falls high-wire plans could go haywire

From the headline of this article at the Toronto Star.

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

〈話〉〔計画・機械・手順などが〕めちゃめちゃになる、おかしくなる、正常に機能しなくなる

   

Answer

According to Dictionary.com:

To break down or cease to function properly

 

Examples

1. They told us later in the hospital that his heart had gone haywire.
2. Their career going haywire seems to be a recurring motif. The Guardian (2018)
3. Your mind plays all kinds of tricks on you when geopolitical events go haywire. From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
4. There's every reason to believe this trial could go haywire. From Salon ● Apr. 3, 2024
5. It's during this crucial period of cell division that things can go haywire. From Science Daily ● Mar. 28, 2024

   

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Question of the Day #1439

Put a Bow On it: Paterson Officials, Community Celebrate Vera Ames' Birthday with Ribbon Cutting

From the headline of this article at TAPinto Paterson.

  上記の文で、put a bow on itの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "put a bow on it" 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：
このイディオムは英辞郎に掲載されていないのでHiNativeによると、

何かに最後のタッチを加えることを意味するイディオムです。つまり、何かを終えることを意味します

   

Answer

According to the Cambridge Dictionary "put a bow on something" means:

to make something complete or perfect

 

Examples

1. This final victory puts a bow on his success story.
2. The story ends as they put a bow on their long pursuit of love by getting married.
3. This is a really good idea, let’s put a bow on it.
4. Joe Mixon: ‘Let’s put a bow on it, s--, we’re desperate, too’ Texans can clinch AFC South division Sunday
5. Put a bow on your holiday app marketing with new innovations to find high-value users

   

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Question of the Day #1438

Man, can you imagine giving up a Biglaw partnership to run interference for a dead pedophile? Or, you know, that dead pedophile’s buddy.

From the 2nd paragraph of this article at Above The Law.

  上記の文で、run interferenceの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "run interference" 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：
英辞郎によると、

1. 《アメフト》〔敵の動きを〕妨げる、妨害する◆ボールを持って走る味方の選手の前を走って、敵の選手をブロックして、進路を開けること。
2. 〈比喩〉〔誰かのために〕邪魔［障害］を取り除く、盾になる、援護する、助け舟を出す

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

to provide assistance by or as if by clearing a path through obstructions

 

Examples

1. His no-nonsense assistant runs interference for him on just about everything, from work to social life.
2. The press secretary runs interference for the governor.
3. At times Robbie has to run interference between his son and daughter when things get too heated. From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025
4. “Whenever she visits, I’ve never seen her turn anybody away. She’s accessible almost to a fault. Sometimes, we don’t know if we should go and run interference, but she never seems bothered.” From Washington Post ● Sep. 5, 2022
5. He told her: “He’s gonna run interference for me right now, and that’s damn good advice, and I appreciate that very much.” From Seattle Times ● May 5, 2022

   

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Question of the Day #1437

President Donald Trump is in the catbird seat as New York City’s mayoral race enters its final days — positioned to benefit no matter who takes City Hall.

From the 2nd paragraph of this article at Politico.

  上記の文で、catbird seatの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "catbird seat" 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：
英辞郎によると、

有利な立場、権力の座

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

a position of great prominence or advantage

 

Examples

1. With memory giants like Samsung and SK Hynix cranking up production to keep pace with Nvidia’s Blackwell ramp, Lam is sitting in the catbird seat. — John Buckingham, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
2. And Shanae is in the catbird seat, still mulling over whether to pick Logan or James. — Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 18 Oct. 2022
3. Of the two Democratic leaders, Newsom had the easier path to the political catbird seat. — John Myers, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2022
4. Publicly the Communist Party acts like this market dominance puts it in the economic catbird seat. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2021
5. Even with all of the congressional turnover — and the prospect that more could be coming — the GOP still sits in the catbird seat in Texas. — Tom Benning, Dallas News, 9 Aug. 2019

   

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