Question of the Day #1466

Are you ‘maxxing’ life to the fullest? Dictionary.com’s 2026 Word of the Year 

From the headline of this article at The Baptist Paper.

  上記の文で、maxxingの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "maxxing" 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：
Yahoo!ニュースによると、

Dictionary.comはmaxxingを、「ある活動をとことん追求したり、生活のある側面を最適化したりすること」と定義している。

リンクの記事にもっと詳しい説明があります。

 

Answer

According to Dictionary.com:

Maxxing (sometimes -maxxing) is short for “maximizing.” This trendy term can be used on its own or added to the end of any word to convey you’re doing something to the fullest or optimizing it as much as possible. 

 

Examples

1. Maxxing derives from gamer jargon min-maxing, which means optimizing a character in role play or video game for the best chance at success.
2. The term is popular with Gen Z and Gen Alpha, but you’ll also hear older generations use maxxing online and in real life, whether they’re referencing a popular trend or throwing the suffix on the end of literally any word to be a little cheeky.
3. Similar to the slang “in my __ era,” maxxing has proliferated in language to the point that it may have lost its meaning.
4. -Maxxing (sometimes spelled -maxing) describes the practice of optimizing a specific aspect of one's life, often to an extreme degree.
5. While -maxxing originated in niche online communities (such as the manosphere), it has since spread across mainstream social media; it is now used humorously or ironically in a variety of settings.

   

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Question of the Day #1465

Splinter: Bari Weiss’ Shambolic CBS News Is Leaking Like the Titanic

From the headline of this article at Jezebel.

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

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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、

【形】
〈英話〉乱雑な、無秩序な

   

Answer

According to Dictionary.com:

very disorganized; messy or confused.

 

語源

英辞郎によると、

【語源】20世紀後半に、symbolicの類推でshamblesから作られたと考えられている。

 

Etymology

According to Dictionary.com:

First recorded in 1960–65; alteration of shambles (in the sense “a disordered place”); probably on the model of symbolic

   

Examples

1. Indeed, tax policy has become shambolic and spending discipline is non-existent. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2026
2. The event was somewhat shambolic, with confused chefs stopping for selfies with Bibendum as the host tried to move things along. — Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
3. The networks were on the hot seat because their election-night coverage had contributed to the chaos of that shambolic evening. — Jim Rutenberg, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2017
4. Recognizing the bloody result of America’s post-9/11 conflicts, and especially its shambolic war of choice in Iraq, does not take away from the grief and respect owed to those who were killed. - From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2026
5. But the American dream of winning the tournament for the first time fizzled out in shambolic fashion in the early hours of Tuesday morning with a hugely disappointing defeat by Belgium. - From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

   

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Question of the Day #1464

Even Elena Kagan Is Done Giving The Supreme Court Majority The Benefit Of The Doubt

From the headline of this article at Above The Law.

  上記の文で、benefit of the doubtの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "benefit of the doubt" 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、

疑わしい点を被告に有利［善意・好意的］に解釈すること

上記訳では「被告」が対象ですが、下記英語の定義にあるように「被告」に限らずあらゆる人・物が対象になりえます。

 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

the state of accepting something/someone as honest or deserving of trust even though there are doubts

 

Examples

1. I didn't know whether his story was true or not, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
2. Levi’s — under Gass as well as her predecessor Chip Bergh — has built up a certain credibility and is getting the benefit of the doubt. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026 
3. Tiger Woods is no longer getting the benefit of the doubt. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
4. “CSU policy should give the benefit of the doubt to more nuanced or borderline allegations,” the audit concluded. - From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2023
5. Given the choice to believe a stranger or not, humans tend overwhelmingly to believe, to trust, to give the benefit of the doubt. - From Washington Post ● Sep. 6, 2019

   

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Question of the Day #1463

Farmers Put Down Roots in Limington With Help From Their Friends

From the headline of this article at Down East.

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

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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、

〔人が場所に〕根を下ろす、定着する

   

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To establish something, someone, or oneself as a permanent resident or establishment in a certain place.

 

Examples

1. I'd been living in this country for a few years, but it wasn't until I had kids that I felt like I had really put down roots here.
2. The company is keen to put down roots in the region, which they see as having huge untapped market potential.
3. I was born and raised here, moved to New York and eventually came home, where I put down roots with my then-girlfriend, now wife. - From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
4. The couple will put down roots in an undisclosed location, and the children’s school will be kept under wraps. - From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
5. They lost an entire decade’s worth of sacrifices they’d made to put down roots in their hometown, and the community they’d created. - From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2026

   

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Question of the Day #1462

Despite its chichi, tony edge, the idyllic, walkable town of Carmel-By-The-Sea is a fairytale village set on the windswept sea.

From the 1st paragraph of this article at Medium.

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

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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：
Weblioによると、

いやに飾り立てた、派手な、ハイカラな、いきな、当世風の
発音記号・読み方/ʃíːʃiː(米国英語), ˈtʃi:tʃi:(英国英語)

   

Answer

According to Dictionary.com:

showily or affectedly elegant or trendy; pretentious.

 

Examples

1. This part of Colorado is really chichi and fancy, with lots of great restaurants and amazing natural beauty. — Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023 
2. The Washington area alone has the Jason, the Adele, Eliot on 4th, the Tiffany, AVA, the chichi-sounding Henri, the George, the Lacey. — Lavanya Ramanathan, chicagotribune.com, 23 Aug. 2019 
3. The pages inside the magazine are just as chichi as the cover, featuring an array of pieces from the Paris Couture collections, including conceptual designs from Marni, Loewe, Calvin Klein, and Emporio Armani. — Emily Kirkpatrick, PEOPLE.com, 26 Sep. 2017
4. Pitkin County Dry Goods—a multibrand luxury boutique that’s become a regular stop for chichi shoppers—had its highest-grossing day in five decades this summer. From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
5. Cameo was burning $5 million a month on its staff, travel, parties at the Cameo House, and expensive takeout for stars from chichi spots like Sugarfish and Jon & Vinny’s. From New York Times ● Oct. 20, 2023

   

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Question of the Day #1461

“Fire in the hole! Fire in the hole! Fire in the hole!” is shouted, followed by loud blasts ringing through the air.

From the headline of this article at Marines.mil.

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

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

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

爆発するぞ。◆敵から爆発物が狭い場所に投げ込まれたとき、または炭坑などで爆発物に点火したときに仲間に発する警告。

上記の他に、何かが起きようとしていることを知らせる一般的な警告（必ずしも危険なことに限らず）。

 

Answer

According to Reverso:

1. (slang warning) generalized warning that something is about to happen
2. (safety warning) of an imminent explosion

 

Examples

1. We're using dynamite to blast through this rock to clear the tunnel. Everyone stand back—fire in the hole!
2. I'm about to detonate the charges to break open the safe. Fire in the hole!
3. At the shout of "Fire in the hole!", we all made efforts to shield ourselves from flying debris.
4. The miners shouted fire in the hole before the blast. 
5. Fire in the hole! The meeting is starting now.

   

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Question of the Day #1460

Not only does she outline the following eight essential skills that every true adult should have down cold, she also delves into how parenting practices can hold young people back from mastering them.

From the 4th paragraph of this article at Inc.com.

  上記の文で、have down coldの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "have down cold" 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、

～を完全に知る［理解する・分かる・覚え込む・記憶する・身に付ける・マスターする・会得する］、～を熟知する
表現パターンhave [get] ~ down pat [cold]

   

Answer

According to Dictionary.com:

Learn or accomplish perfectly.

 

Examples

1. I have this song down cold. 
2. Make sure you practice these equations until you have them down cold.
3. I always get my routine down cold so there won't be any room for error during the performance.
4. A: "You had all those definitions down cold, though." B: "I know, and I totally blanked when I sat down to take the test!"
5. Great communicators have their leads down cold.

   

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