Question of the Day #855

In addition, the company has increased its dividend payout four times over the last five years, with a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of a rock-solid 7.2%.

From the 8th paragraph of this article at NASDAQ.com.

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

1. 〔物が〕石のように硬い
2. 〔意志・決心などが〕極めて堅固な、盤石の、手堅い
3. 〔人間関係などが〕堅実な、信頼できる、頼りになる
4. 〔証拠などが〕絶対確実な、動かぬ

しばしば、ハイフォンなしのrock solidと表記されます。
 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

completely or perfectly solid (as because of great strength or dependability)

 

Examples

• I've fixed the table - it's rock-solid now.
• She has a rock-solid reputation.
• He is right to imply that the political structure is a little shaky—it was a myth that it was ever rock solid. — Xan Smiley
• The director-general assured the governors that the evidence was "rock-solid".
• The ice on the river was rock solid.

   

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #854

Laid-back vibes, eclectic menu & attentive service define Susan’s in Sawyer

From the headline of this article at the Harbor Country News.

  上記の文で、vibeの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "vibe" 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：
Vibeは、vibrationの省略で、英辞郎によるとvibrationの訳は、

〈米俗〉〔人・場所・状況などを見て生じる〕感情［気持ち］、〔雰囲気などから起きる〕感情◆通例、vibrationsまたはvibes

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

a distinctive feeling or quality capable of being sensed

   

Examples

• This place has a good/bad vibe.
• I didn't like the place—it had bad vibes.
• I was getting some weird vibes from him—I don't think he liked me.
• Good luck, we're all sending you positive vibes.
• The rest of the album maintains this relaxing vibe. Times, Sunday Times (2013)

   

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #853

Some Twitter users, the majority of whom seem to be trans, are rallying behind #DropKiwifarms, using it as an opportunity to share their personal experiences with the forum that allegedly uses doxxing, swatting, and other intimidation tactics to bully their arbitrary targets, sometimes leading their victims to kill themselves.

From the 2nd paragraph of this article at Kotaku.

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

スワッティング◆悪質ないたずら（または嫌がらせ）。「凶悪犯人が立てこもっている」などと虚偽の通報をして、第三者（いたずらのターゲット）の家に特殊部隊(SWAT)が派遣されるように仕向けること。

   

Answer

According to the Cambridge Dictionary:

the action of making a false report of a serious emergency so that a SWAT team (= a group of officers trained to deal with dangerous situations) will go to a person's home, by someone who wants to frighten, upset, or cause problems for that person

   

Examples

• Swatting involves placing a hoax emergency call to draw a strong police response to an address.
• The man who allegedly placed the "swatting" call has been arrested.
• It was only a matter of time before swatting would cost someone their life.
• Swatting incidents typically occur when an attacker has gained access to their victim’s personal information, such as their home or work address, which they are likely to obtain through one of these processes
• His plan was to swat other gamers during their streaming broadcasts so everyone would see it happen.

   

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #852

The Philly rapper born Tariq Trotter had of course already displayed his otherworldly dexterity as frontman and co-founder of The Roots, and, beginning in 2018, emerged as a willing and capable soloist with a series of freewheeling mini-releases.

From the 1st paragraph of this article at NPR.org.

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

1. 〔車輪などが〕惰性で走行する、フリーホイールの
2. 〔人が〕自由に行動する、自由気まま［奔放］な
3. 〔言動が〕慎みがない、無責任な

問題文の場合は、楽曲や歌詞に関するものなので三番目が適訳ですが、ニュアンスとしては二番の訳も間違っていないと思います。  

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

free and loose in form or manner: such as

1. heedless of social norms or niceties
2. not repressed or restrained
3. not bound by formal rules, procedures, or guidelines
4. loose and undisciplined : not defensive

   

Examples

• There is an independence and freewheeling spirit in Alaska.
• He has given up his freewheeling lifestyle to settle down with his baby daughter.
• Loose, freewheeling charges were traded during the argument
• Incongruity isn’t seen as a blemish, and the lyrics tend to be more freewheeling and braggadocious. -Sheldon Pearc, The New Yorker, 30 June 2021
• Made for Love, which is certainly not quite like any other book on earth, is more freewheeling, dense with references—an experiment whose outcome is as vivid and as startling as a chip stuck in the brain.- Philippa Snow, The New Republic, 8 Apr. 2021

   

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #851

Buildkite Adds Analytics Tools to Identify Flaky App Tests

From the headline of this article at DevOps.com.

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

1. 薄片状の、フレーク状の
2. 〔菓子の生地などが〕パイ状の、パサパサの
3. 〈米俗〉〔人が普通ではなくて〕変わっている、頭のおかしい、気の狂った
4. 〈米俗〉〔人が〕頼りにならない、信頼できない

問題文の訳は、4番目が正解です。

 

Answer

According to :

1. consisting of flakes
2. tending to flake
3. markedly odd or unconventional: OFFBEAT, WACKY
4. informal: not reliable in performance or behavior : UNDEPENDABLE

   

Examples

• The central character of the play is a flaky neurotic.
• The truth is actors are often flaky, unreliable and unstable people.
• He wondered if the idea wasn't just a little too flaky, a little too outlandish.
• … digital crutches trump face-to-face talking (even phone calls), encouraging people to be flaky and evasive … - Charlotte Liberman
• You'll want to make sure that all the technology tools you need to effectively and efficiently serve clients are in full working order and that you won't need to worry about wasting time and money fixing broken hardware or flaky software. - Henry B. Chace

   

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #850

'Disgruntled' Prince Harry will 'pull no punches' in upcoming memoir

From the headline of this article at The News.

  上記の文で、pull no punchesの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "pull no punches" 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、

手加減しない

Pull punches/pull a punchを直訳すると、「パンチの力を抜く」なので、pull no punchesが上記の訳になるわけです。
また、下記例文2と3のようにnot pull any/your punchesの変形もあります。

 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To act without restraint or limitations; to not soften one's words or actions.

   

Examples

• My father is very direct and pulls no punches.
• Her image is that of an investigative reporter who doesn't pull any punches.
• She doesn't pull her punches when talking about lazy people.
• The doctor pulled no punches but told us the whole truth.
• Everyone around here is so afraid to be honest with me because I'm the boss, but I need you to pull no punches — what exactly do you think is wrong with the company?

   

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #849

Kirkland Signature. Two-Buck Chuck. Simple Truth. Cat & Jack. Great Value. Amazon Basics. Store brands have never been more popular.

From the 1st paragraph of this article at CNN.com.

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

自社ブランド、ストアブランド商品◆例えば、Safewayというスーパーなら、"Safeway's bath tissue"（トイレット・ペーパー）などがストアブランド商品に当たる。

とありますが、いわゆる「プライベートブランド」です。
ところが、英語では会社や店舗によって呼び方がいろいろあります。例えば、store brandの他にprivate label, white label, generic brand  

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

a product that is made for a store and has the store's name on it

 

Examples

• Unlike national brands, store brands can lower their prices and still be profitable.
• He told them a strong store brand would free them from the tyranny of manufacturers.
• Due to the fact that all of these are store brands, the stores are often competitive to get buyers to their store brand.
• What’s more, retailers like Target and Walmart are ramping up their store brands. - HOW CLOROX’S NEW CEO PLANS TO TURN DISINFECTANT WIPES INTO FUTURE WINS|PHIL WAHBA|OCTOBER 21, 2020|FORTUNE
• The company has faced pressure from cheaper store brands and also felt the pinch as retailers cut back on goods that they keep in stock. Times, Sunday Times (2009)

   

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #848

Struggling to learn the language? The best expat countries in Europe for English speakers

From the headline of this article at Euronews.

  上記の文で、expatの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "expat" 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：
Expatは、expatriateの略で英辞郎によると名詞形の訳は、

1. 国外居住者、海外駐在者
2. 国籍離脱［放棄］者

動詞系や形容詞系にさらに多くの意味があるので、ぜひ上記のリンクで参照してください。

Answer

Expat is an abbreviation of expatriate and according to Merriam-Webster it means:

a person who lives in a foreign country

   

Examples

• A large community of expatriates has settled there.
• Art Deco is associated in particular with two expatriates living in Paris: Josephine Baker and Tamara de Lempicka.
• The city is now a tourist and expatriate destination. — Peter Canby, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2022
• Qatar is renewing efforts to make real estate more attractive to expatriate residents, foreign investors and real estate funds. — Simone Foxman, Bloomberg.com, 6 Oct. 2020
• Hemingway himself in The Sun Also Rises, 1926, had given the picture of the dislocated life of young English and American expatriates in the bars of Paris, the "lost generation," as Gertrude Stein defined them. — Robert Penn Warren

   

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #847

Rodriguez is completely comfortable in his own skin, or at least certainly appears to be.

From the 10th paragraph of this article at The Union-Bulletin.

  上記の文で、comfortable in one's own skinの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "comfortable in one's own skin" 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、

《be ～》ありのままの姿でいて心地良い［いる余裕がある］

   

Answer

According to Wiktionary:

(idiomatic) Relaxed and confident in one's manner of presenting oneself and interacting with others; conveying the impression that one has a clear, satisfying understanding of one's own abilities and situation.

   

Examples

• Perot was witty and comfortable in his own skin, which I thought would reassure his supporters and perhaps sway some of the undecided voters.
• She had been completely natural from the first with him, utterly comfortable in her own skin.
• Says his wife Marlene: "He presents the same face to people in Washington that he does to our sons' friends. He's just comfortable in his own skin."
• Though his girlfriend's group of friends are all older and more established in life, he is comfortable enough in his own skin to have no problem mingling with them at parties.
• Janet is so comfortable in her own skin that I have no doubt that she'll find her ideal path in life.

   

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #846

How can there be peace of mind in such a place, where smiles are made-up with an intent to pull one's leg as soon as there’s a chance.

From the 13th paragraph of this article at Dawn.

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

〈話〉（人）をからかう◆日本語の「脚を引っ張る」とは発想が違う

「（人）をからかう」では、間違いではないがちょっと違う気がします。ニュアンスとしてはいたずらや冗談（つまり遊び感覚）で「（人）をだます」の方が近いと思います。

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To tease or joke with someone, often by trying to convince them of something untrue.

   

Examples

• He was just pulling your leg when he said he won the lottery.
• She said: “The councillor phoned me and started talking about pot holes and I thought he was trying to pull my leg.” [The Telegraph]
• Quit pulling my leg, I know there isn't a Hollywood director calling me right now.
• You don't mean that. You're just pulling my leg.
• I'm just pulling your leg, darling. You used to have a sense of humour.

   

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #845

Most notably, the Biden administration has reengaged with Iran on a mutual return to the JCPOA; it has worked to wind down the disastrous war in Yemen; and it has, until now, turned a cold shoulder to Saudi Arabia.

From the 12th paragraph of this article at Brookings.

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

〈話〉〔知人に対する〕冷たい［よそよそしい］態度、冷遇、無視

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

intentionally cold or unsympathetic treatment

   

Examples

• His wife was angry and giving him the cold shoulder.
• The young entrepreneur got a cold shoulder from the business establishment.
• Rather than giving anyone the cold shoulder, consider extending a hand in friendship. — Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2022
• Particularly in today’s challenging market environment, investors should think twice before giving ex-U.S. assets the cold shoulder. — Kristin Mckenna, Forbes, 22 June 2022
• But the contrast between the reception that Ukrainians are seeing now and the cold shoulder that refugees from Syria received during the 2015 refugee crisis in Europe is stark. — Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Mar. 2022

   

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #844

I suppose we just have to hope against all hope for something like this to happen.

From the last paragraph of this article at Fansided.

  上記の文で、hope against all hopeの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "hope against all hope" 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：
英辞郎には、このイディオムは掲載されていませんが、同じ意味のhope against hopeがあり、その訳は、

見込みのない希望をもち続ける

   

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To continue to hope for something even though it seems unlikely to happen.

   

Examples

• Jane hoped against hope that Joe would call her.
• It was a couple of days since the earthquake, but the family were still hoping against hope that their son was safe.
• There is little point in hoping against hope, except that it makes you feel better.
• I know she said that she wasn't going to come home for Christmas, but I'm hoping against hope she'll change her mind.
• We hope against all hope that she'll see the right thing to do and do it.

   

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。