Question of the Day #794

Can Toronto’s Heritage Study Stand Up to NIMBY Attitudes?

From the headline of this article at Storeys.

上記の文で、NIMBYの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does “NIMBY” 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、

ニンビー◆廃棄物処理施設や精神科病院など、都合の悪いものを他所に設置するのはいいが自分の家の近くには絶対いやだという自分勝手な人◆【語源】not in my backyardの頭字語

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

opposition to the locating of something considered undesirable (such as a prison or incinerator) in one's neighborhood

Acronym for Not In My Back Yard.

語源

Merriam-Websterによると、

初めて使用されたのは、1980年。

Etymology

According to Merriam-Webster,

First Known Use of NIMBY:
1980

Examples

• The usual nimby argument implies we are against all development. - Times, Sunday Times (2013)
• The spokeswoman said that nimby attitudes were delaying development of the site.
• This followed a nimby campaign against the noise made by the wind farm.
• The reason is on the next slide, which is filled with public NIMBY complaints. - OUR TRIP TO THE CLIMATE WAR'S GROUND ZERO|DARREN ARONOFSKY|SEPTEMBER 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
• And for every excited gentrifier, there is a horrified, indignant NIMBY. - BEST BUSINESS LONGREADS|WILLIAM O’CONNOR|NOVEMBER 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST

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Question of the Day #793

Putin's endgame: Will it be stalemate, nuclear war — or regime change in Moscow?

From the headline of this article at Salon.

上記の文で、stalemateの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does “stalemate” mean?

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

1. 〔交渉などの〕行き詰まり、こう着状態
2. 《チェス》ステイルメイト◆他に動かす駒がなく、かつキングがチェック（王手）されていないのに合法的な正規着手ができないために、ルールにより引き分けとなる状態。
3. 《囲碁》関

2番の訳にあるように、チェス用語でこれが語源です。

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

1. a drawing position in chess in which a player is not in checkmate but has no legal move to play
2. a drawn contest: DEADLOCK

Examples

• The budget debate ended in a stalemate.
• The new agreement could break the stalemate.
• Despite long discussions, the workers and the management remain locked in stalemate.
• Tomorrow's meeting between the two leaders is expected to break a diplomatic stalemate that has lasted for ten years.
• Ukraine refused Russian demands to surrender Mariupol Monday, with the besieged port city the focal point of a war that has reached a brutal stalemate but kept fueling a devastating humanitarian crisis. — NBC News, 21 Mar. 2022

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Question of the Day #792

What Is An Oligarch? Here’s What You Need To Know About Russia’s Billionaires

From the headline of this article at Forbes.

上記の文で、oligarchの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does “oligarch” mean?

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解答

意味：
RNN時事英語辞典によると、

寡頭政治の支配者、政治的影響力のある新興財閥、オリガルヒ（ロシア、ウクライナなど）

Answer

According to Lexico:

1. A ruler in an oligarchy.
2. (especially in Russia) a very rich business leader with a great deal of political influence.

語源

Lexicoによると、

17世紀初期のギリシア語のoligarkhes (oligoi “few” + arkein “to rule”)より。現在のロシアに対して使用され始めたのは、1990年代後半より。

Etymology

According to Lexico,

Early 17th century from Greek oligarkhēs, from oligoi ‘few’ + arkhein ‘to rule’. oligarch (sense 2) dates from the late 1990s.

Examples

• ‘it seems more than a coincidence that former employees, advisors, and allies of the billionaire oligarch have been parachuted into such positions’
• Of course, a tiny handful of oligarchs became billionaires overnight there in the 1980s. Times, Sunday Times (2016)
• The fate of the Dilbar, one of the world’s biggest yachts that the United States says belongs to the oligarch Alisher Usmanov, is unclear. — New York Times, 8 Mar. 2022
• Hanick worked for the oligarch from 2013 to 2017, the DOJ said. — Anousha Sakoui, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2022
• Pitt has filed a lawsuit against Jolie for selling her stake in a French vineyard the two co-owned to a Russian oligarch. — Chris Morris, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2022

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Question of the Day #791

THE SANDSTORM: ARE UNION CHICKENS COMING HOME TO ROOST?

From the headline of this article at California Policy Center.

上記の文で、chickens coming home to roostの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does “chickens coming home to roost” mean?

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解答

意味：
英辞郎にchickens come home to roostはありませんが、come home to roostはあります。

〔悪行・言葉などが〕しっぺ返しとなって我が身に跳ね返ってくる

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

proverb One's previous actions will eventually have consequences or cause problems for oneself.

語源

Dictionary.comによると、

鶏が寝ぐらの巣に戻ることは昔からよく知られているが、比喩的に初めて使用したのは、Robert Southeyの1809年出版のThe Curse of Kehamaの“Curses are like young chickens, they always come home to roost.”です。

Etymology

According to Dictionary.com,

The fact that chickens usually come home to rest and sleep has long been known, but the idea was used figuratively only in 1809, when Robert Southey wrote, “Curses are like young chickens, they always come home to roost” (The Curse of Kehama).

Examples

• After years of overspending, the chickens have come home to roost.
• Eventually, of course, the chickens came home to roost.
• I knew not handing in my homework would be a problem sooner or later. I guess my chickens came home to roost.
• Jill: Emily found out that I said she was incompetent, and now she won't recommend me for that job. 
  Jane: The chickens have come home to roost, I see.
•  For years he avoided paying tax. But now his chickens have come home to roost and he’s got a tax bill of $25 000.

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Question of the Day #790

It’s how we’ve come to have another Batman movie in theaters not even a full year after Zack Snyder’s Justice League debuted on HBO Max and only two and a half years since Todd Phillips’s Joker featured a tween Bruce Wayne.

From the 2nd paragraph of this article at Vulture.

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

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

【名】
トゥイーン◆8～12歳の子ども。◆【語源】8歳くらいの子どもとティーンエイジャー（13～19歳）との間(between)◆preteenとほとんど同じ意味だが、口語的・俗語的。preteenよりやや広い意味を持つこともある。
【形】
そろそろ思春期の、8歳から12歳くらいの

Answer

According to the Cambridge Dictionary:

a child between the ages of approximately eight and twelve

Examples

• Here are some of the best gifts for tweens.
• a movie that appeals to tweens
• Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen's main fanbase are all tweens.
• However, some dictionaries say tween is an abbreviated form of preteen, while others say it is an abbreviated form of tweenager.
• A tweenager is listed as a child between the ages of ten and fourteen, someone who is almost a teenager or a new teenager.

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Question of the Day #789

Romesha believes Russian tanks and their reactive armor or “javelin shields” won’t stand up to a Javelin missile.

From the 7th paragraph of this article at Coffee or Die magazine.

上記の文で、reactive armorの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does “reactive “armor 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：
Weblioによると、

反応装甲

ただし、これはexplosive reactive armor (ERA)（爆発反応装甲）の略称で、爆発反応装甲はWeblioによると、

装甲板の上に貼り付けて使う増加装甲の一種で、板に爆薬を挟み込んだもの。 「リアクティブアーマー」とも呼ばれる。
敵弾の着弾と同時に爆発し、それによってエネルギーを相殺して侵徹を妨げる。 成形炸薬弾（HEAT）に対しては、メタルジェットの侵徹を広く浅くするため特に効果がある。 爆発時に主装甲を含めて周囲に被害が出ることや、同じ場所に続けて着弾すると対応できないことなどが欠点。 機関銃程度の被弾で爆発しないように、この装甲の外板はかなり頑丈な素材でできていることが多い。

ということになります。

Answer

According to Lexico:

(US) High tech military armor that has a explosive layer that attempts to deflect incoming weapons by detonating.

Also called “explosive reactive armor” or ERA.

Examples

• Modern tanks are covered with reactive armor, which in some cases is packed with small amounts of explosives that will detonate an incoming warhead.
• However, explosive reactive armor actually isn’t much of an advantage against the modern anti-tank missiles being used by Ukrainian fighters. 
• In the late 1980s, the TOW 2 hardware improvements included a thermal beacon guidance system, while the 2A version gave the capability to defeat reactive armor.
• The Kornet fires an anti-tank guided missile that can destroy enemy tanks that have explosive reactive armor.
• Many Russian tanks have "reactive armor" that resembles metal bricks glued to the outside. 

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Question of the Day #788

Individuals with spinal cord injuries are some of the most resilient people who know firsthand just how taxing the recovery process can be on both the body and mind.

From the 1st paragraph of this article at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

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

副詞

1. 〔情報の入手などが〕じかに、直接に
2. 〔事件などを見るのが〕じかに、自分の目で
3. 〔知識の獲得などが〕直接体験して、じかに（接して）

形容詞

1. 〔情報などが〕直接［じか］に得られた、直接入手した

例文の場合は、副詞なので三番目の訳が適切でしょう。

Answer

According to Dictionary.com:

Adverb

1. from the first or original source

Adjective

1. of or relating to the first or original source
2. direct from the original source

Examples

• We heard the news of the accident firsthand from a witness.
• Most of the older reporters have experienced war firsthand.
• For many, it is a homeland close by and is often known firsthand or via inherited memories.
• Lucy Jordan, a British writer living in Brazil with her family, experienced this firsthand. - IF YOU’RE A SOLO PARENT TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY WITH YOUR KIDS, BE READY FOR THIS QUESTION|GINA RICH|FEBRUARY 4, 2021|WASHINGTON POST
• To forestall that particular future, the project suggests, perhaps we have to travel there ourselves, seeing it — and smelling it — firsthand. - AROMAS CAN EVOKE BELOVED JOURNEYS — OR VOYAGES NOT YET TAKEN|JEN ROSE SMITH|FEBRUARY 11, 2021|WASHINGTON POST

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Question of the Day #787

Russia accuses Ukraine of thwarting humanitarian corridors - Ifax

From the headline of this article at Reuters.

  上記の文で、humanitarian corridorの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "humanitarian corridor" 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：
RNN時事英語辞典

人道回廊

   

Answer

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:

Specific routes and logistical methods agreed upon by all relevant parties to allow the safe passage of humanitarian goods and/or people from one point to another in an area of active fighting.

 

Examples

• One week has now passed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the two countries have come to agreement for the first time since then, in order to allow for humanitarian corridors to be opened up.
• Humanitarian corridors are established in order to provide safe passage for victims of conflict and for humanitarian charities and their workers to access and escape areas hit by armed conflict.
• On Monday 7 March Russia announced new “humanitarian corridors” to transport Ukrainians caught and trapped under its bombardment.
• In many instances, humanitarian corridors are negotiated by a third party not involved in the fighting, normally the United Nations, and were employed numerous times during the Bosnian War and Syrian Civil War.
• The World Health Organization has also called for a humanitarian corridor to be opened to ensure humanitarian workers and supplies can reach people in need.

 

Question of the Day #786

Breathtaking nature, stunning beaches and lots of fun are some of the words used to describe the incredible Balearic island Ibiza.

From the 1st paragraph of this article at Luxury Travel Magazine.

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

〔美しさなどが〕息をのむような、すごい、ハラハラするような、驚くような、驚くほどの、驚異的な

Answer

According to the Cambridge Dictionary:

extremely exciting, beautiful, or surprising

Examples

• The view from the top of the mountain is breathtaking.
• His performance is described in the paper as "a breathtaking display of physical agility".
• The town of Tofino is accessible via a scenic five-hour road trip from Vancouver or a breathtaking one-hour seaplane flight with Harbour Air, which lands at the resort's docks. — Julia Eskins, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2022
• Some of their football was breathtaking, a delight to watch.
• He nevertheless completed the film with breathtaking speed. 

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Question of the Day #785

Ukraine conflict: What is a vacuum or thermobaric bomb?

From the headline of this article at BBC.com.

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

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
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解答

意味：
RNN時事英語辞典によると、

気化爆弾、サーモバリック爆弾

とありますが、深く探ると「気化爆弾」は「燃料気化爆弾」の略だとわかります。その燃料気化爆弾の仕組みは、Weblioによると、

揮発性及び引火性の高い液体（酸化エチレン・酸化プロピレン・ジメチルヒドラジンなど）を、爆薬によって瞬間的に加圧・沸騰させて空気中に散布し、適度な濃度で着火して爆風と衝撃波を発生させる爆弾。
また「サーモバリック爆弾(Thermobaric Bomb)」とも呼ばれるが、これは液体燃料の代わりに固体燃料を用いて小型化したものを指す場合が多い。

Weblioの記事のつづきがありますので、もっと深く知りたい方は是非リンク先で読みましょう。

Answer

According to the following BBC.com article (which also uses the alternate name "vacuum bomb,"):

A vacuum bomb, also called an aerosol bomb or fuel air explosive, consists of a fuel container with two separate explosive charges.
This can be launched as a rocket or dropped as a bomb from aircraft. When it hits its target, the first explosive charge opens the container and widely scatters fuel mixture as a cloud.
This cloud can penetrate any building openings or defences that are not totally sealed. A second charge then detonates the cloud, resulting in a huge fireball, a massive blast wave and a vacuum which sucks up all surrounding oxygen. The weapon can destroy reinforced buildings, equipment and kill or injure people.  

Examples

• The Russian media immediately reminded us that their own thermobaric bomb – the “father of all bombs” – was four times as powerful: “Kids, meet Daddy,” was how the Kremlin mouthpiece Russia Today put it. - The Guardian, Apr 17, 2017
• “a thermobaric bomb can create overpressures equal to an atomic bomb”
• Previously, Duong was director of Science and Technology at the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Indian Head Division, where she developed the thermobaric bomb. - Washington Post, Aug 20, 2010
• Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, has accused Russia of attacking Ukrainians using thermobaric bombs, also known as vacuum bombs, during its invasion of the country.
• Thermobaric munitions can be traced back to World War Two, when they were initially used by the German army.

 

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Question of the Day #784

Boozy Sledder Loses His Job - Was Viral Video To Blame?

From the headline of this article at the Riverfront Times.

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

〈話〉酔っぱらった、大酒飲みの

Boozeは、スラングで酒のことです。したがって、boozyはその形容詞になります。ただし、上記の訳よりも幅広い意味で使用されます。例えば、a boozy partyは、大量の酒が提供されるパーティになります。  

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

informal inclined to or involving excessive drinking of alcohol; drunken

 

Examples

• ‘The friend you invited to your boozy Christmas lunch is a recovering alcoholic.’
• ‘‘Every sign has its keynote flavours,’ she says of the idea, which ‘came out of a boozy lunch with the manager’.’
• On the first and third of every month, the place is packed with old men getting their boozy fixes.
• She's going for a boozy night out with her friends.
• The critics held him in high esteem as an actor, and the fans adored him for his outrageous and boozy personality.

 

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