Question of the Day #191

"Sources Just Revealed What Trump Has Been Saying Behind Closed Doors About Mueller
From the headline of this article at Verified Politics.

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

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解答

意味： 英辞郎によると、


〔話し合いなどが〕密室で、秘密［秘密裏］に、非公開［水面下］で

Answer

According to Cambridge Dictionary:

If something happens behind closed doors, it is hidden or kept secret from public view

Examples

• The deal was negotiated behind closed doors.
• Nobody knows what goes on in a family behind closed doors.
• All of their meetings are held behind closed doors.
• They seemed like the perfect couple, but you never know what goes on behind closed doors.
• The decisions are made behind closed doors.

Question of the Day #190

"Fed does not buy Trump tax-plan hype, sees short-lived economic boost"
From the headline of this article at Reuters.

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

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解答

意味： 英辞郎によると、


1. 〈俗〉誇大広告、刺激的な宣伝
2. 〈俗〉過剰宣伝された人［もの］
3. 〈俗〉ごまかし、いんちき、うそ

なので、この場合は1だと思いますが、3でもおかしくないかもしれない。

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

1. deception, put-on
2. publicity; especially : promotional publicity of an extravagant or contrived kind

Although I lean towards the first definition for this example, I guess it could be either.

Etymology/語源

Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、

「過剰または人を惑わす広報または広告」という意味は、1967年からの米英語。（動詞形は1937年頃からあるとされている。）おそらくhyperbole（誇張（法）、誇大広告［表現］）の短縮形として。

According to Online Etymology Dictionary:

"excessive or misleading publicity or advertising," 1967, American English (the verb is attested from 1937), probably in part a back-formation of hyperbole

Examples

• all the hype before the boxing match
• ‘is his comeback a hype?’
• I've been put off reading the book by all the hype.
• We are certainly seeing a lot of hype by some companies.
• My products aren't based on advertising hype, they sell by word of mouth.

Question of the Day #189

"Roy Moore Just Broke His Silence About Conceding To Doug Jones In Alabama Race"
From the headline of this article at Verified Politics.

上記の文で、break one's silenceの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "break one's silence" mean?

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解答

意味： 英辞郎によると、


沈黙を破る

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To voice one's opinion or comment on something after initially avoiding doing so.

Examples

• It took days, but the mayor has finally broken his silence on the scandal at city hall.

Question of the Day #188

"The Bubble: Right plays Alabama blame game while left rejoices Roy Moore loss"
From the headline of this article at USA Today.

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

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解答

意味： 英辞郎によると、


〔泡のように実体のない〕幻想、とりとめのない空想

Answer

According to Cambridge Dictionary:

a situation in which you only experience things that you expect or find easy to deal with, for example opinions you agree with, or people who are similar to you

Etymology/語源

Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、

硬さ、実態、永久性に欠ける比喩的な使い方は、1590年代から。

According to Online Etymology Dictionary:

Figurative use in reference to anything wanting firmness, substance, or permanence is from 1590s.

Examples

• Even as early as December 4, remarks from inside the bubble were cryptic and frightened.
• "Life itself is a bubble and a skepticism, and a sleep within a sleep." Essays, Second Series, Ralph Waldo Emerson
• The candidate liked to talk to ordinary people to get a fix on what was happening outside his bubble.
• On social media we all tend to live in our bubbles, where everyone feels the same way we do.

Question of the Day #187

"In the wake of Harvey Weinstein, film Academy issues new code of conduct"
From the headline of this article at USA Today.

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

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解答

意味： 英辞郎によると、


行動準則［規範］、行為規範

なお、複数形はcodes of conductになるので注意してください。

Answer

According to Cambridge Dictionary:

a set of rules about how to behave and do business with other people

Examples

• The pharmaceutical industry's voluntary code of conduct says doctors may not be given gifts in exchange for an agreement to prescribe a product.
• Doctors in Britain say a new code of conduct is urgently needed to protect the doctor-patient relationship.
• "Those larger groups have a code of conduct enforced by a full-time personnel manager or fixer." Times, Sunday Times (2014)
• A handbook of an organization setting forth rules for behavior by members is an example of a code of conduct.

Question of the Day #186

"Faith leaders write to Senate leadership opposing tax plan"
From the headline of this article at The Hill.

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


《a ～》信仰指導者

Answer

It's difficult to find an actual definition for "faith leader" but according to the National Careers Service of the UK:

Religious leader
Faith leader, cleric

Religious (or faith) leaders offer spiritual and moral guidance, and lead public worship and other religious ceremonies.

Question of the Day #185

"House Republicans Just Brought The Senate’s Tax Bill To A Grinding Halt"
From the headline of this article at Verified Politics.

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

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解答

意味： 英辞郎によると、


1. ギーというきしみ音をあげて止まる、急停止する
2. 〜を停止させる

なお、英辞郎や英英辞典ではあまりgrinding haltだけでは掲載されていませんが、意味は上記のようになります。
この二つの単語を使った他の言い回しとしては、
come to a grinding halt
grind to a halt
がありますが、意味はほぼ同じです。

Answer

According to McMillan Dictionary:

a situation in which something gradually stops operating completely

Another similar phrase using the same two words is "grind to a halt."

Examples

• A car will come to a grinding halt if you put water in the petrol tank.
• A transportation strike brought the capital to a grinding halt.
• The project came to a (grinding) halt.
• The project ground to a halt.
• ‘in summer traffic all but grinds to a halt’

Question of the Day #184

"Sheriff's deputy reassigned after dressing as Frederica Wilson in blackface: report"
From the headline of this article at The Hill.

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

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解答

意味： 英辞郎によると、


黒人に扮したメーキャップ［役者］

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

makeup applied to a performer playing a black person especially in a minstrel show; also : a performer wearing such makeup

Etymology/語源

Merriam-Websterによると、

初めて使用されたのは、1847年

According to Merriam-Webster:

First Known Use: 1847

Examples

• Pinterest Riverdale star Lili Reinhart has apologized for tweeting a meme of a Halloween costume many of her followers described as blackface. — michele corriston, PEOPLE.com, "Riverdale's Lili Reinhart Apologizes for 'Racially Insensitive' Halloween Costume Joke," 23 Oct. 2017
• An Idaho credit union has issued an apology after posting photos of several employees of its Post Falls branch dressed in blackface for a Halloween costume depicting the Jamaican bobsled team, drawing criticism on social media. — nicole blanchard, idahostatesman, "Idaho credit union apologizes after 4 employees dress in ‘blackface’ on Halloween," 1 Nov. 2017
• In recent years, the topic of blackface and other themes of insensitivity in Halloween costumes has prompted heated debate. — nicole blanchard, idahostatesman, "Idaho credit union apologizes after 4 employees dress in ‘blackface’ on Halloween," 1 Nov. 2017
• Was the blackface scene with Gene Wilder in Silver Streak an important step in how American audiences view minstrelsy?
• White suburbanites getting dolled up in blackface for Ray Rice Halloween costumes.