Question of the Day #647

Cage voices the sputtering, stubborn Grug and he's hilarious, both in his cockeyed line readings and his vivid expressions, which the animators clearly relied on.

From the 3rd paragraph of this article at the Star Tribute.

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

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---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

1. 〈軽蔑的〉斜視の
2. 〈話〉〔並び方が〕ゆがんだ、斜めになった
3. 〈話〉〔話・考えなどが〕ばかげた、愚かな
4. 〈話〉〔真っすぐ見られないほど〕酔っぱらった

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

1. having a cockeye
2. 1. ASKEW, AWRY
   2. slightly crazy : TOPSY-TURVY
   3. DRUNK

Examples

• The windows of the house look cockeyed.
• Where did you get those cockeyed ideas?
• She has some cockeyed delusions about becoming a pop star.
• The government has dreamed up some cockeyed scheme for getting unemployed youngsters back into work.
• But it’s a cult classic waiting to happen, a cockeyed look at a time and place in America when the rules hadn’t yet hardened and seemingly anything could happen — for good and for ill. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, "The 50 Greatest Western Movies of All Time," 18 Jan. 2021

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Question of the Day #646

He did live in San Francisco during the early-to-late 2010s, however, and he remembers that era as the “heyday” of the tech industry’s romance with the media. 

From the 7th paragraph of this article at PR Daily.

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

全盛期、絶頂

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

the period of one's greatest popularity, vigor, or prosperity

語源

The Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、

16世紀後期。heydaの変形で、遊び心、陽気な様、驚きを表す現代英語のhurrahのように使われた感嘆の言葉。

Etymology

According to The Online Etymology Dictionary,

...late 16c. as an exclamation, an alteration of heyda (1520s), an exclamation of playfulness, cheerfulness, or surprise something like Modern English hurrah...

Examples

• In its heyday, the circus was a major form of entertainment for small-town America.
• In their heyday, they sold as many records as all the other groups in the country put together.
• Tales that send a shiver down the spine were in their heyday in the Victorian age. Times, Sunday Times (2011)
• Her earrings—a modern throwback to Hollywood’s heyday are by Cathy Waterman. — Beth Bernstein, Forbes, "Glamor In Jewelry At Home Or On Stage At The 2021 Golden Globes," 1 Mar. 2021
• For just a lonely couple of months since the heyday of the 2008 campaign have a majority of Americans, according to the Gallup Poll, held a favorable opinion of the party. — Michael Kazin, The New Republic, "How the Democratic Party Can Create a Majoritarian Coalition," 11 Feb. 2021

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Question of the Day #645

As the mastermind of the whole shebang, William “Rick” Singer has thus far gotten off scot-free.

From the 6th paragraph of this article at Marie Claire.

上記の文で、scot-freeの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "scot-free" 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、

〔支払い・罪を〕免れて、害を受けないで

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

completely free from obligation, harm, or penalty

語源

One Stop Englishによると、

中世のイングランドにおいてscotとは、所有地に比例して町民に課せられた税金のことを言った。しかし、水源のない丘や洪水しやすい土地等に住んでいた人は、免税になった。このような人は、scot-freeと言われたが、今は罰や罰金を免れた人を言うようになった。

Etymology

According to One Stop English,

In medieval England the scot was a tax levied on the members of a village or town which all the inhabitants had to pay in proportion to the size of their property or the extent of their land. Some people avoided the scot, however, often because their houses were built in unfavourable places such as hills with no water or places prone to flooding. Such people were described as scot free and the term has now come to describe anyone who avoids a punishment or financial penalty that they would normally have to serve or pay.

Examples

• The court let her off scot-free.
• She agreed to testify against her boyfriend and got off scot-free.
• However, they are overwhelming citizens with brutal austerity programmes and allowing the perpetrators to get off scot-free.
• People are still angry about many big Bollywood names going scot-free and the conversation dying down. — Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, "Dear woke India, where were you before Kabir Singh?," 28 June 2019
• If two people have the same initial illness, one may end up with bronchitis while the other gets off scot-free. — Amy Marturana, SELF, "8 Bronchitis Symptoms Everyone Should Know," 28 Dec. 2018

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Question of the Day #644

The argument of sexism aside, the joke that Swift has dated a lot of men is tired and not exactly a knee-slapper.

From the 22nd paragraph of this article at Flare.com.

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

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---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

〔膝をたたいて笑うほど〕おかしな［大受けの］冗談［ジョーク］

形容詞は、knee-slappingです。

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

an extremely funny joke, line, or story

語源

Merriam-Websterによると、

初めて使用されたのは、1966年。

Etymology

According to Merriam-Webster,

First Known Use of knee-slapper: 1966

Examples

• My uncle told me a real knee-slapper the other day! Do you want to hear it?
• Rick told me the best knee-slapper yesterday.
• "Folky Euro pop duo Dulcima, who were both buskers, sing the knee-slapping tune When You Go." Whose song fits UK's Euro vision? PICK OF THE DAY Eurovision: You Decide (BBC4, 7.30pm)
• "The duo will perform a knee-slapping, stand-up routine with aid from various visuals and props." Fill your weekend with food, fun and festivities at the 46th annual Gurnee Day
• "I credit Monty Python and the Flying Circus as a two-way solution to understanding the complexity of the English language from Mother England, combined with knee-slapping laughter." Blurting out 'ano' to a Brit colleague

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Question of the Day #643

The rebrand – with a new logo, new colors and a tag line of “change is for the brave” - comes ahead of the launch of the new platform, which some Travelport clients currently are migrating to ahead of a broader rollout in the coming weeks.

From the 4th paragraph of this article at PhocusWire.

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

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Write your answer in the Comments.

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---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

1. 〔演劇・ジョークなどの〕タグライン、最後の言葉、落ち
2. 特定の人・作品などと結びつけられる〕有名なセリフ、キャッチフレーズ

問題文場合は、当然二つ目の訳になりますが、スローガンと訳すことも少なくないと思います。
Taglineと書くこともあります。

Answer

According to The Cambridge Dictionary:

a short, easily remembered phrase that a company uses in its advertisements, especially on television or the internet, so that people will recognize it or its products

Examples

• Writing a tagline is a good way to add character to your brand.
• "The tag line was: 'Take the worry out of monthly bills with Home Finance.'" Stuart Harrison BETTER THAN THIS
• 'I am writing,' said Andrew, 'the tag line for next year's big film, actually.' Jenny Colgan LOOKING FOR ANDREW MCCARTH
• That should really be the tagline for the action-heavy fourth season of Homeland: “No Country For Young Daughters.” ‘HOMELAND’ SEASON 4: A STRIPPED-DOWN AND SURPRISINGLY BADASS RETURN TO FORM|MARLOW STERN|SEPTEMBER 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
• The tagline for the fourth season of Game of Thrones was “All Men Must Die.” VALAR MORGHULIS: GAME OF THRONES’ WOMEN ARE GOING TO RULE THE WORLD|SCOTT BIXBY|JUNE 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

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Question of the Day #642

So, stress is an internal state, one I define as “the feeling of being out of control.” You know—being dog-tired at the end of the day yet still not being able to sleep because your mind was churning in worry mode?

From the headline of this article at Occupational Health and Safety.

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

答えは、コメントに書いてください。
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---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

〈話〉くたくた［へとへと］に疲れた

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

very tired: EXHAUSTED

Examples

• By dusk we were dog-tired and heading for home.
• We were all tired, dog-tired, until an event that galvanized everybody into life. — Oliver Sacks
• "He was dog-tired, and when he saw the seated man through the lighted window a great longing for companionship came upon him." From Project Gutenberg
• Mom was dog-tired and needed a nap before dinner.
• Even though he was dog tired after long days in the mines, Dad would still pitch batting practice to me in the backyard when he got home from work … — Mickey Mantle

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Question of the Day #641

Now, however, we engineers couldn’t just “phone it in” anymore.

From the 20th paragraph of this article at the Electronic Engineering Journal.

上記の文で、phone it inの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "phone it in" 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、

〈比喩〉熱心でない態度で行う、おざなりにする、投げやりな態度で行う

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To perform a role or duty in a halfhearted, disinterested, and unprofessional manner. In this usage, noun or pronoun can be used between "phone" and "in," especially "it."

語源

Grammaristによると、

Phone it inはアメリカのイディオムで、もともと舞台や演技と関係があったようです。1930年代初め頃、舞台役者の間で「あまりにも小さな役なので舞台に立たずに電話で仕事ができる」というジョークから。

Etymology

According to Grammarist,

The expression phone it in is American, and seems to have originally been connected to the theater and acting. During the early 1930s, a popular joke among theater actors alluded to having a role that was so small it was possible to call on the phone, rather than appear on the stage in person.

Examples

• I really do work on being in the moment, and I definitely don’t phone it in. (The Las Vegas Weekly)
• Your recommendation, the network that you build, and also your integrity — these are all reasons not to phone it in. (Forbes Magazine)
• One of the actors in the play was just phoning it in.
• Everyone phones it in on the morning after a staff party, so don't worry if you don't feel able to give this report your all.
• You can tell the actor is phoning it in—I'm sure he got a good paycheck for the voiceover, but you'd think he would try a little bit harder.

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Question of the Day #640

Planning to retire early? Get your ducks in a row

From the headline of this article at The Standard.

上記の文で、get your ducks in a rowの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "get your ducks in a row" 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：
英辞郎や他のオンライン辞書に掲載されていないため、下記The Free Dictionaryの定義を訳すと、

自分の準備や状況を整えるように行動を起こすこと

になります。

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To take action to become well-organized, prepared, and/or up-to-date.

語源

Grammaristによると、

Get one's ducks in a rowとhave one's ducks in a rowは、アメリカ由来のイディオムですが、その語源ははっきりしない。一説によると、1700年代に流行したlawn bowlingという競技のピンがduck pinと呼ばれてそれを並べることからきたとされる。別の説によると、射的上の錫でできたアヒルの的が並んでいることからきたとされる。また、実際のアヒルや鴨のひなが一列になって母親鳥の後ろを追うことからきているとしている。

Etymology

According to Grammarist,

Get one’s ducks in a row and have one’s ducks in a row are American idioms, the origin of these phrases is murky. One possible origin is a lawn bowling game that was popular in the 1700s, which involved setting up duck pins, obviously, in a row. Another possible inspiration for the term get one’s ducks in a row is the way in which tin ducks are lined up in a shooting gallery. A third possibility comes from actual ducks and the way in which ducklings line up when following their mothers.

Examples

• The government needs to get its ducks in a row.
• “I would think before they implement this, they should get their ducks in a row.” (The Des Moines Register)
• In a fast-paced market with limited supply, get your ducks in a row before you shop. (The Kiplinger)
• Make sure Finance gets their ducks in a row before the audit.
• We need to get our ducks in a row to ensure that there are no problems at home while we're gone on our trip.

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Question of the Day #639

Charlie Ripley, a senior investment strategist for Allianz, said the legislation is a shot in the arm to speed up recovery from the pandemic.

From the 9th paragraph of this article at Business Insider.

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

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---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

1. 《a ～》〈比喩〉元気を回復させるもの
2. 《a ～》〔人に行動を起こさせる〕強い刺激、カンフル剤

Answer

According to the Cambridge Dictionary:

something that has a sudden and positive effect on something, providing encouragement and new activity

Examples

• Fresh investment would provide the shot in the arm that this industry so badly needs.
• Winning this award has been a big shot in the arm for the students.
• The remaining problems can be dealt with in weeks, and to risk further delay would be to deny the world economy a desperately needed shot in the arm.
•  The pep talk was a real shot in the arm for all the guys.
• The chief's unexpected praise really gave my floundering project a shot in the arm.

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Question of the Day #638

Choosing the right perfume for someone else can be tricky. Instead of buying the same old scent, or taking a shot in the dark, gift multiple aromas that can be tried and tested with a perfume discovery set from the likes of Maison Margiela, Floral Street, Le Labo and Malin+Goetz, among others.

From the 8th paragraph of this article at The List.

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

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。
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---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

当てずっぽうを言ってみる

なお、言葉だけではなく、行動等も含まれる。
同じ意味でtake a stab in the darkというイディオムもあります。

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To make a guess or estimate with very little or no assurance as to its accuracy.

Examples

• I didn't study for the test and took a shot in the dark.
• "I'll take a shot in the dark."
• I don’t know what Bill’s favorite color is, but if I were to take a shot in the dark, I would say it’s yellow.
• I’ve been trying to fix an error on my computer for over an hour now. At this point, I’m just taking shots in the dark and hoping it works.
• I had absolutely no idea what the answer was for the last question on the exam, so I just took a shot in the dark and hoped for the best.

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Question of the Day #637

io9 regulars’ mileage may vary on the definition of “deep cuts” of course—you all watch more than the average viewer—but these are the titles people may or may not have heard of, but should definitely give a shot.

From the headline of this article at Gizmodo.

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

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。
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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

～を試みる、～をやってみる

Answer

According to The Idioms:

1. to have a try at something
2. to try something that you are not familiar with
3. make an attempt

Examples

• I have never eaten sushi, but I will give it a shot.
• I have never been very good at baseball, but I will give it a shot.
• If it is so important to you that I get on with your sister I will give it a shot.
• I have never cooked a meal for this many people, but I will give it a shot.
• Writing a speech is very nerve wracking. However, I am going to give it a shot.

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Question of the Day #636

People who badmouth others undermine their own physical, mental health

From the headline of this article at Japan Today.

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

〈主に米俗〉〔人の〕悪口を言う、〔人を〕中傷する、〔人を〕厳しく［口汚く］批評［非難］する

Answer

According to :

To criticize or disparage, often spitefully or unfairly

Examples

• Stop bad-mouthing him all the time.
• Why are you always bad-mouthing the medical profession?
• Both men continually bad-mouthed each other.
• He had sworn not to bad-mouth Liv, though he held her at fault for the breakup of their marriage. Barbara Delinsky SUDDENLY (1993)
• "those cross-Atlantic aficionados who persistently idolize the British theater and bad-mouth Broadway" (Benedict Nightingale).

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Question of the Day #635

Opinion: Andrew Cuomo, a longtime political bully, is receiving his comeuppance

From the headline of this opinion piece at The Washington Post.

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

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。
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---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

天罰、当然の罰、当然の報い

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

a deserved rebuke or penalty

Examples

• One of these days, he'll get his comeuppance for treating people so arrogantly.
• The central character is a bad man who shoots people and gets his comeuppance.
• She'll get her comeuppance.
• History tells us that public figures who behave badly or cause real harm to others rarely receive their comeuppance. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Retire the phrase “cancel culture” and focus on what really matters, accountability," 23 Feb. 2021
• And those means include the utilization of narratives, including conspiracy theories, that delegitimize Democrats and offer hope of their eventual comeuppance. — Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, "The Democratic Party Has a Fatal Misunderstanding of the QAnon Phenomenon," 5 Feb. 2021

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Question of the Day #634

The Tory leader hit back: “I’m a straight shooter. And that’s why I use words like ‘bankrupt,’ because it cuts to the heart of the matter.”

From the 4th paragraph of this article at The Globe and Mail.

上記の文で、straight shooterの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "straight shooter" 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.

---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

真っ正直な人間、真面目人間

Answer

According to Lexico:

An honest and forthright person.

Examples

• ‘He is widely praised as honest and a straight shooter.’
• He may be prickly, but he's an absolute straight shooter and he tells it exactly like he thinks it is.’
• Sal's a real straight shooter. If you ask for his opinion, he'll tell you without trying to sugarcoat it.
• Above all, Garland's 25 years on the D.C. Circuit established his reputation as a smart, centrist, nonideological legal thinker — a straight shooter who acted on the basis of principle and the rule of law. — Star Tribune, "Justice Department really needs Merrick Garland," 7 Jan. 2021
• he debate will be moderated by Fox News' Chris Wallace, who has a reputation as a straight shooter. — Michelle L. Price, chicagotribune.com, "What and where to watch as Trump and Biden meet in Ohio for tonight’s first debate," 29 Sep. 2020

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