Question of the Day #15

"That company got a sweetheart deal."

上記の文のsweetheart dealの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "sweetheart deal" 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：この文の場合は、「談合」でもいいかもしれないが、必ずしもそこまで大げさな話ではない。（下記、英語の説明参照）例えば、自動車ディーラーの店長が知り合いで、自動車を購入した時に普通ではしてもらえない大きな値引き等も、sweetheart dealと言う。
オンライン英英辞典の一つで「談合」と定義しているのは、Dictionary.com。

Answer:

The only Japanese term that Eijiro (an online Japanese/English dictionary) gives is 談合 (dango, collusion), and in this case that could be correct, but that is not the only definition.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as, "an agreement that you make in which you get something that is to your advantage, especially by agreeing to give up something else."
Investopedia defines it as, "A merger, a sale or an agreement in which one party in the deal presents the other party with very attractive terms and conditions. The terms of a sweetheart deal are usually so lucrative that it is difficult to justify turning the offer down."
Merriam-Webster defines it as, "an unusually good arrangement or agreement that helps someone who has a lot of influence or who knows someone important."
Dictionary.com has a definition that is closest to the Japanese "dango": "A mutually profitable and either unethical or illegal arrangement, usually involving a public agency."

Examples

• While Ben Nelson is on board, thanks in part to a sweetheart deal for the good people of Nebraska, a majority of voters aren't.
• U.S. Attorney Ortiz, speaking to the press following the hearing, denied that Greig had received any kind of “sweetheart deal.”
• He got a sweetheart deal on the new job/car because he knows the manager.

Question of the Day #14

Jane: "So, how's it going with that new guy you're dating?"
Sally: "I thought things were great, but all of a sudden he ghosted me."

上記の会話で、ghostedの意味は？
In the dialogue above, what does "ghosted" 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：問題の英文の場合は、下記１の意味に該当。

1. 人（特に付き合っている人）が連絡しなくなるまで無視し続けること。
2. パーティー等の集まりで誰にも挨拶することなく突然退席すること。

Answer:

The answer to the question is definition 1 below.

1. to suddenly end all contact with (a person) without explanation, especially in a romantic relationship
2. to leave (a social event or gathering) suddenly without saying goodbye

From Dictionary.com.

Examples

• The guy I’ve been dating ghosted me.
• They dated for a month and then she ghosted.
• My friend ghosted my birthday party.
• I'm getting tired so I think I might just ghost.

Weekend Recommendation #4

This week's recommendation:

今週のおすすめ：

Bartleby.com

Why is this recommended?

なぜ、これがおすすめ？

This site is a collection of many famous and useful books. The caveat is that all of them are older versions for which the copyrights have lapsed.
One of my favorite books within this site is Bartlett's Familiar Quotations which is an excellent source when you want to find a good quote.

このサイトは、数多くの英語の有名で役立つ本を提供している。ただし、著作権が切れたものばかりなので、古い本または古い版のものです。
中でも、私が個人的にとくに役に立つと思う本は、Bartlett's Familiar Quotationsで、名言を探す時に重宝しています。

Bartleby.com

Question of the Day #13

今回は、英訳を考えていただきます。
英語で、下記の日本語をどう訳す？
This time we are doing a Japanese-to-English problem.
How would you translate the following Japanese into English?

前もって準備する
maemotte junbi suru

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 write the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答:

Prepare

解説:

Prepareの語源は、ラテン語のprae（先に、前もって）とparare（用意する）からなるpraeparare（前もって用意する）なので、prepareの中に「前もって」の意味が最初から含まれている。したがって、「前もって」を訳す必要性はない。
ただし、いつも直前まで準備を始めない人に（例えば、先生が生徒を注意する時のように）、ギリギリまで待たないでもっと早く準備するように注意する意味で、
Be sure to prepare ahead of time.
と言うことはある。

Answer:

Prepare

Explanation:

前もって　(maemotte) means "before" or "ahead of time," and 準備する (junbisuru) means "prepare" by itself. Therefore, there is no need to translate maemotte.
However, if the context implies that this term is being used to caution someone (e.g., a teacher making sure that his/her students don't start preparations until the last minute), then it is perfectly fine to translate it as,
"Be sure to prepare ahead of time."

Question of the Day #12

"There new album is the bomb!"

上記の会話で、the bombの意味は？また、同義語として使える他の単語等は？
In the dialogue above, what does "the bomb" mean, and/or what other words/phrases could be used in its place?

答えは、コメントに書いてください。
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明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will write the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味： 魅力的な・素晴らしい（物・人）
注意：この意味の場合、必ずtheを使う。theの代わりにdaを使ってda bombになることもある。
同義語： awesome, phenomenal, the best, the greatest

Answer:

Definition: An outstandingly good person or thing
Note: Always the bomb or da bomb.
Synonyms: awesome, phenomenal, the best, the greatest

語源：

Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、「成功」の意味でbombが使われるようになったのは、１９５４年だけれど、今の使い方は１９９０年代に新たにできたとのこと。

Etymology:

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary:

Meaning "success" is from 1954 (late 1990s slang the bomb "the best" is probably a fresh formation); opposite sense of "a failure" is from 1963.

Examples

• Her boyfriend is the bomb!
• The site would really be da bomb if its content were updated more frequently.
• I loved that movie! It was the bomb!

Question of the Day #11

"How far is the library?"
"About 3 kilometers as the crow flies."

上記の会話で、as the crow fliesは、どういう意味？
In the dialogue above, what does "as the crow flies" 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 write the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

---

解答

意味： 一直線に、直線・最短距離で

Answer:

In a direct line, without any of the detours caused by following a road.

語源：

カラスは、最短距離で飛ぶ習性があると言われていることから。
World Wide Wordsによると、最も古い使用例は、1761年の下記英文とのこと。

Etymology:

According to World Wide Words:

Anyone who has watched a crow flying any distance knows it tends to do so in a steady, unwavering line — not always, but then this is a generalisation of a tendency, not invariable fact. Since the flight of the crow is unaffected by obstacles on the ground, its route came to represent the shortest distance between two points.
This is the earliest example I’ve so far found:

Now the country that those Indians inhabit is upwards of 400 miles broad, and above 600 long, each as the crow flies.
The Gentleman’s and London Magazine, Dec. 1761.

Examples

• It is 15 kilometers as the crow flies.
• 'How far is it from Cambridge to London?' 'About 50 miles as the crow flies.'
• Our farm is only five miles from town as the crow flies, but the winding roads mean we have to drive nearly eight miles to get there.
• It’s only three miles to Square Tower as the crow flies, but it’s all of ten miles if the Glasgow Hamilton Road is closed and one has to drive round the Johnstone Road.

Weekend Recommendation #3

This week's recommendation:

今週のおすすめ：

The Elements of Style

by W. Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White

Why is this recommended?

なぜ、これがおすすめ？

This book is one of the most concise yet respected books on English grammar and style. This version is made available by the University of Washington and is neither the latest version nor a complete version, but it covers the questions most writers have.

これは、短いながらも英語の文法とスタイルに関するとても権威性の高い本です。このバージョンは、ワシントン大学が提供しているPDF版で、最新版でも完全版でもありませんが、英語の書き手の多くの疑問を解決してくれます。

The following is the link to the PDF format made available by the University of Washington:
下記が、PDF版のページのリンクです。

The Elements of Style

Question of the Day #10: Pill

"What do you think of Bobby?"
"He's a bit of a pill."

上記の会話で、pillは、どういう意味になる？また、同義語として使える他の単語は？

In the dialogue above, what does "pill" mean, and/or what other words could be used in its place?

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 write the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味： 退屈な・つまらない人間、無愛想・不機嫌な人。このサイトによると、「大きて苦くて飲みづらい錠剤の薬のような人」。
同義語： a disagreeable person, an unpleasant person, a pain in the ass, a jerk, a bore

Answer:

Meaning:

• a tiresomely disagreeable person
• An insipid or ill-natured person
• a person who can just get on every nerve, they are bitter and basically hard to swallow like a pill

Synonyms: a disagreeable person, an unpleasant person, a pain in the ass, a jerk, a bore

語源：

このサイトによると、「つならない人間」として初めて使われたのが1871年。

Etymology:

• slang meaning "boring person" is recorded from 1871.

Examples

• "Don't be a pill. I'll rake the yard when I'm good and ready."
• Jennifer was being such a pill today.
• Omg that girl is such a pill, I could kill her!

Question of the Day #9: ホームセンター

今日は、いつもと反対に、英語の適訳を考えてください。

「ホームセンター」

は、英語で何と言う？

Changing things up a little today.
What is the Japanese term ホームセンター (hoomu sentaa) in English?

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

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解答/Answer

意味： Home improvement store

備考/Remarks

和英辞書によっては、do-it-yourself storeやhardware storeやself-help storeのような訳もありますが、いずれも微妙に違うと思う。

• Do-it-yourself store: 広義的には、間違いではないが、どちらかというとホビー系も含まれる。
• Hardware store: これは、昔からある、比較的小規模な金物屋として考えたほうがいいでしょう。
• Self-help store: この呼び方は、ホームセンターにもなるが、自分の健康や自己啓発のための店という意味もある。

Question of the Day #8: Dog and pony show

"I am not going to meet with that sales rep. I've already seen his dog and pony show."

上記の文のdog and pony showの意味は？

In the dialogue above, what does "dog and pony show" 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 write the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

---

解答

意味：（何かを売り込むための）手の込んだ宣伝・プレゼンテーション等

Answer:

an often elaborate public relations or sales presentation; also :  an elaborate or overblown affair or event

語源：

Dog and pony showは、１９世紀から２０世紀初頭にかけてアメリカで小さい町や地方をまわった小規模の移動サーカスのことをいう。主な出し物が、芸をする犬やポニーを使ったことから、このように呼ばれるようになった。

Etymology:

Dog and pony show was a colloquial term used in the United States in the in the late-19th and early-20th centuries to refer to small traveling circuses that toured through small towns and rural areas. The name derives from the typical use of performing dogs and ponies as the main attractions of the events.

Examples

• Gary went into his standard dog and pony show, trying to sell us onan upgrade to our software.
• Don't you get tired of running through the same old dog and pony show at every trade　show?
• Powerpoint was originally used by businesses to create a dog and pony show.
• Our average customer is a businessperson who doesn't need the dog and pony show.

Weekend Recommendation #2

This week's recommendation:

今週のおすすめ：

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

at Gutenberg.org

Why is this recommended?

なぜ、これがおすすめ？

This is really just a follow up on last week's recommendation for Gutenberg.org, but since the, sort of, live action movie is out this year, I thought I'd suggest it.

For the record, there is more to the Jungle Book than just the story of Mowgli. My absolute favorite is the story of Rikki-tikki-ravi. :)

これは、先週のProject Gutenbergに関連するオススメですが、ことし「ジャングルブック」の「実写版」が封切りになったので、オススメしようと思いました。

ちなみに、「ジャングルブック」は、狼に育てられた少年モーグリの話だけではなく、幾つもの短編もあり、個人的にその中のRikki-tikki-taviの話が一番好きです。

Here is the link to the various e-book formats page: こちらが、電子本の各種フォーマットのページのリンクです。

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Question of the Day #7: Bust one's balls

After Rick got angry at the prank targeting him, Ian said, "Hey, don't get so mad, we were just busting your balls."

上記の会話で、"busting your balls" (bust one's balls)は、どういう意味る？

In the dialogue above, what does "busting your balls" (bust one's balls) 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 write the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

オンライン英和辞典（スラング辞典を含む）において下記のように訳されている。

• 懸命に努力する
• 全力で取り組む
• 必死に頑張る、等

しかし、これでは、問題文の意味が通じない。
そこで、英語のスラング関連のサイトをみると、もっと多くの意味があることがわかる。

1. からかう、悪戯をする
2. 無理難題を言う
3. 文句を言う、叱る、小言を言う
4. 罰する、懲らしめる

等があるので、問題文の"busting your balls"は

「からかっていた」の意味

になる。

Answer:

Interestingly, a simple search of this idiom at online English-to-Japanese dictionaries only turns up one meaning: To strive or work hard.


However, if you check out the English slang websites, we can find the following meanings:

1. To make fun of someone
2. VulgarTo make extreme or unreasonable demands of someone.
3. To complain, scold, or nag
4. To punish.

語源

Historical Dictionary of American Slangによると初出は、

1944 in Atwell Private 53: In camp we bust our balls learning how to climb over a mountain so they can’t see you.

この文では、bust our ballsは、「懸命に努力する」「全力で取り組む」の意味ですが、他の意味の語源を見つけることはできませんでした。

Etymology

According to the Historical Dictionary of American Slang:

1944 in Atwell Private 53: In camp we bust our balls learning how to climb over a mountain so they can’t see you.

The meaning here, of course, is to strive or work hard, but this was the only credible source I was able to find.

Examples

• It's just funny to bust balls with someone who gets easily mad.
• My mom's been busting my balls since Tuesday to mow the lawn.
• If you don't mow that lawn soon I'll bust your balls.

備考/Remarks

変形/Similar idioms

• bust one's chops
• break one's balls

Question of the Day #6: Dox

"Have you seen Mark around?"
"He got doxed and has all kinds of problems."

上記の会話で、doxの意味は？

In the dialogue above, what does "dox" 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 write the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

---

解答

意味：

• [自他動] 他人の個人情報をインターネット上にさらすこと (doxxとも書く)
• [名] （ハッキングによって盗まれた）個人情報

Answer:

• Search for and publish private or identifying information about (a particular individual) on the Internet, typically with malicious intent
• to publicly identify or publish private information about (someone) especially as a form of punishment or revenge
• to publish the private personal information of (another person)or reveal the identity of (an online poster) without the consent of that individual

語源：

documentsの略語docsの発音の別のつづり

Etymology:

Early 21st century: alteration of docs, plural of doc (short for document).

Examples

• hackers and online vigilantes routinely dox both public and private figures
• "This isn't the first time the LAPD has been doxxed. In 2011, a group affiliated with the online hackers Anonymous claimed responsibility for posting personal information of more than 40 officers, including their home addresses, campaign contributions, property records, and names of family members after they claimed the LAPD oppressed them by shutting down the Occupy L.A. Movement." — Christine Pelisek, The Daily Beast, 13 Mar. 2013
• The professor was doxed by a bitter student who failed her class.
• Several players doxed the programmer because the final version of the game disappointed them.
• Someone dropped Bob's dox and the next day, ten pizzas and three tow trucks showed up at his house.

Question of the Day #5: The whole nine yards

"I bought a new flat screen TV and an awesome home theater system; essentially the whole nine yards".

上記の文で、the whole nine yardsは、どういう意味？

In the sentence above, what does "the whole nine yards" 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 write the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

---

解答

意味： 何もかも、全て、一切合切、意味: 全て、何処までも

Answer:

the entire amount, everything, as far as possible

語源：

印刷物で確認できる限り（下記、英語参照）このフレーズが初めて使われたのは、1907年のインディアナ州のThe Mitchell Commercial新聞 。しかし、語源となると様々な説があり、多くが否定され、これというはっきりしたものがない。語源とされるものに、下記のものがある。

• 高級紳士服を作るための生地の長さ
• コンクリートミキサー車が搭載できるコンクリートの量
• １９世紀の大型帆船の帆桁(yard)の数
• 土葬で使用する土の量
• 第二次世界大戦の機関銃の装弾ベルトの長さ

より詳しい説明を読みたい方は、下記英文を参照してください。

Etymology:

There are many theories about the origin of the phrase "the whole nine yards" (and you can find most of them in the Snopes article that my friend, Cathy Thomas, has linked to in the Comments below), but none have been verified. However, there is one story that rings true, but it still doesn't tell us exactly what "the whole nine yards" refers to.

According to The Phrase Finder:

The earliest known example of the phrase in print that I know of is from an Indiana newspaper The Mitchell Commercial, 2nd May 1907:


This afternoon at 2:30 will be called one of the baseball games that will be worth going a long way to see. The regular nine is going to play the business men as many innings as they can stand, but we can not promise the full nine yards.

It appeared again in the same paper the following year, on 4th June 1908:

...Roscoe went fishing and has a big story to tell, but we refuse to stand while he unloads, He will catch some unsuspecting individual some of these days and give him the whole nine yards.

The meaning of 'the whole nine yards' in the above citations is clear, that is, as we use it now, 'the whole thing/the full story'. Oddly, and even though it was well enough known in Indiana in 1907 to have appeared several times in newspapers without the authors feeling the need to explain it, the expression seems to have disappeared from view for another 50 years or so.

Examples

• For you I'll go the whole nine yards.
• When you join the gym, they show you all the equipment, tell you how to use it, the whole nine yards.
• This home has ‘the whole nine yards’ in convenience.
• The mountain trail was a difficult one, but I wanted to go the whole nine yards.
• The story was interesting, but we had to leave midway. We didn’t get the whole nine yards.

Weekend Recommendation #1

This week's recommendation:
今週のおすすめ：

Gutenberg.org

Why is this recommended?

なぜ、これがおすすめ？

You get access to free ebooks by Project Gutenberg. The books come in many different formats, some are even available in the Amazon Kindle format, so that you can read them on your Kindle if you have one.

All the books are older books, of course, since they are no longer protected by copyright in the United States, but that doesn't mean that there aren't some great books.

Project Gutenbergの無料電子本がダウンロードできる。さまざまな形式のファイルがある。例えば、最近ではAmazon Kindleの形式のファイルも増えているので、自分のKindleやKindle Readerで読めるものもある。

全ての本は、米国で著作権が切れたものなので古いものですが、それでも名作がたくさんある！

Some suggestions to get you started.
お試しリンク集

• Mark Twain's books
• The Sherlock Holmes stories
• The Wizard of Oz series
• The Tarzan series

Question of the Day #4: Easy on the eyes

Bob: What do you think of June?
Rick: She's easy on the eyes.

上記の会話で、easy on the eyesは、どういう意味？

In the dialogue above, what does "easy on the eyes" 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 write the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

---

解答

意味：綺麗、魅力的
同義語：pretty, attractive

Answer:

Meaning/Synonyms: attractive, pleasant to look at

備考：




• 対象は、人間だけではなく、いろいろなものに使える。
• 男女どちらにでも使える。
• "Easy on the eye"という使い方もできる。

Remarks:

• Can be used for a wide range of things.
• When used towards a person, can be applied to either male or female.
• Can also be "easy on the eye."

Examples

• Some of the celebrities mentioned in People magazine's annual "Sexiest People" lists could also be called easy on the eyes since they're supposedly good-looking.
• She may be easy on the eyes but she is totally conceited.
• It's not a painting which is easy on the eye, but it attracts your attention for other reasons.

Question of the Day #3: Dope

John: What do you think of my new car?
Ricky: That car is dope!

上記の会話で、dopeは、どういう意味になる？また、同義語として使える他の単語は？

In the dialogue above, what does "dope" mean, and/or what other words could be used in its place?

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 write the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

---

解答

意味：すごい、格好いい、素晴らしい等
同義語：great, cool, hot, etc.

Answer:

Meaning/Synonyms: great, cool, hot, etc.

由来：

Oxford Dictionaries blogによると、dopeが形容詞として使われるようになったのは、1981年。また、その年から始めてdopeは、マイナスイメージの単語からプラスイメージの単語に変わった。
それまでは、俗語として下記のような意味が主だった：


• 間抜けなやつ
• マリフアナ、ヘロイン等の麻薬
• 内報、秘密情報

Origin:

According to the Oxford Dictionaries blog:

In 1981, ‘dope’ made the leap from noun to adjective and, more importantly, from negative connotation to positive connotation, coming to mean excellent in the lexicon of the emerging hip-hop culture.

文例/Examples

• "Ain't nobody dope as me, I'm dressed so fresh so clean." (So Fresh, So Clean, Outkast)
• "That girl's dope" (Dope!,Bell Biv DeVoe)
• "I'm a dope boy wit a guitar" (American Star, Lil Wayne)
• "I got a dope beat" (Dope Beat, Boogie Down Productions)