Question of the Day #880

Meanwhile, for all the worries about the Ukrainian government’s competence and corruption, Zelensky pulled his weight, making appearances on the frontlines of the conflict that has wrought destruction on Eastern Ukraine since 2014, when Moscow started backing separatist groups there.

From the 5th paragraph of this article at the National Review.

  上記の文で、pull one's weightの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "pull one's weight" 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：
英辞郎によると、

自分の役割［職務・分担］を十分果たす、自分の仕事を十分にこなす、精いっぱい協力する

この訳では、下記英語の定義にあるニュアンスが一つ欠けています。それは、in proportion to one's ability or responsibilityの部分です。すなわち、役割や仕事を十分果たすだけではなく、その人の「能力や責任」に相応しいレベルで果たすという意味があります。
 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To contribute to a group activity or pursuit in proportion to one's ability or responsibility.

 

語源

英辞郎によると、

ボート競技でこぎ手が自分の体重をかけてオールをこぐ様子から

 

Etymology

According to The Free Dictionary,

This term comes from rowing, where each crew member must pull on an oar at least enough to propel himself or herself. Its figurative use dates from about 1900.

   

Examples

• In a busy restaurant, everyone has to pull their weight.
• If you don't pull your weight, our presentation will never be finished on time.
• He needs to start pulling his weight around here, or we'll have to let him go.
• We will finish in time if we each pull our weight.
• Pull your weight, and it doesn’t matter if everything is rigged in your favor or not. - (The Indianapolis Monthly)

   

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Question of the Day #879

Biden's latest gaffe on student loan bailout plan may come back to haunt him

From the headline of this article at Fox News.

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

〈フランス語〉失敗、しくじり、へま、失言、失策、〔知らず知らずに犯す〕社会的失態

   

Answer

According to :

1. a social or diplomatic blunder
2. a noticeable mistake

 

Examples

• He realized that he had committed an awful gaffe when he mispronounced her name.
• I made a real gaffe - I called his new wife "Judy", which is the name of his ex-wife.
• Hopefully she will soon make another major gaffe and disappear back to the wilds, after sadly setting back the cause of women in American politics by decades. - The Sun (2016)
• Bette Midler stirred up quite a bit of confusion over a famous line in Hocus Pocus last week, all thanks to a social media gaffe. — Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2022
• Not many Americans noticed the gaffe, but the British press did. — John Wilkens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022

   

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Question of the Day #878

The DRAGULA Universe Is Expanding: The Boulet Brothers Dish On (Some Of) The Details

From the headline of this article at Fangoria.com.

  上記の文で、dish onの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "dish on" 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：
英辞郎や他のオンライン辞書にこのイディオムは掲載されていないので、下記The Free Dictionaryの定義を訳すと、

誰か・何かの噂話をする

になります。
また、Merriam-Websterによると、dishだけでも自動詞としてgossip（噂話をする）またはto disclose private or personal information（個人情報を暴露する）の定義があります。
 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

slang To gossip about someone or something.

 

Examples

• Those popular girls are always dishing on someone in our class.
• They spent an hour dishing on Wally.
• The conversation also heard both ladies dish on all of their beauty must-haves and skincare secrets. — Rachaell Davis, Essence, 5 Aug. 2022
• Gwen Stefani stopped by Late Night With Seth Meyers on Thursday night (Sept. 8) to dish on her upcoming return to The Voice. — Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 9 Sep. 2022

   

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Question of the Day #877

The decades leading up to the First World War were characterized by the salad days of capitalism...

From the 3rd paragraph of this article at the Monroe News.

  上記の文で、salad daysの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "salad days" 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：
英辞郎によると、

《one's ～》〈古〉〔人の人生のうち〕若くて経験の乏しい時期、世間知らずの若い頃、駆け出しの頃

上記訳の中に〈古〉とありますが、下記文例にあるように今でも使用されています。
 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

time of youthful inexperience or indiscretion

 

語源

Grammar Monsterによると、

この言い回しは、シェークスピアの戯曲「アントニーとクレオパトラ」の次のセリフ"They were my salad days, when I was green in judgement."からきてます。

 

Etymology

According to Grammar Monster,

The phrase originated from the play Antony and Cleopatra by Shakespeare, which includes the line They were my salad days, when I was green in judgement.

   

Examples

• Back in my salad days, I used to go out every weekend.
• Looking back on my salad days makes me smile.
• Whenever I ask my grandfather the meaning of a word I hear on TV, he always laughs and says he'll tell me when I'm no longer in my salad days.
• Even years removed from their salad days at The Rivoli, The Kids were still grappling with how to best communicate with each other. — Mike Postalakis, SPIN, 25 May 2022
• It’s John’s inheritance from his recently deceased father, an original mod revivalist who, in his salad days, once led a bikers’ protest against Margaret Thatcher on the streets of Brighton. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Nov. 2021

   

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Question of the Day #876

There’s a giddiness among the intimate group of diners seated along Hansei’s L-shaped counter when Ono serves his souped-up California roll.

From the 16th paragraph of this article at Eater.com.

  上記の文で、souped-upの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "souped-up" 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。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

1. 〈俗〉〔エンジンなどが〕馬力を上げた、高出力化した、パワーアップした
2. 〈俗〉性能［価値］が向上した、魅力が増した、価値が増大した、高性能になった

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

enhanced or increased in appeal, power, performance, or intensity

   

Examples

• These are not "souped-up" second world war radars.
• He was driving a souped-up sports car.
• a souped-up website/email service
• An open two-seater sports car was coming up, a souped-up 1930s model. - Hilton, John Buxton, MOONDROP TO MURDER
• Is he entirely satisfied that these small cars which are "souped-up" by their owners are really in the best interests of road safety?

   

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Question of the Day #875

Coparenting had its fits and starts but, for the most part, everything was going relatively well.

From the headline of this article at PureWow.com.

上記の文で、fits and startsの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "fits and starts" 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：
英辞郎によると、

間欠的な［のらりくらりした］動作◆【参考】in fits and starts

   

Answer

According to :

To do something in “fits and starts” is to do it intermittently or sporadically

 

Examples

• “Martina has been working on her master's thesis in fits and starts; she needs to work on it consistently.”
• The car was almost completely broken down, but, by fits and starts, we were able to get it to a mechanic.
• Replies to the advertisement are arriving in fits and starts.
• My slimming attempts tend to go in fits and starts.
• Military technology advances by fits and starts.

   

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Question of the Day #874

If you prefer to cut to the chase, you can skip to the very end of this article for the answer to the June 10 Wordle, #356.

From the headline of this article at .

  上記の文で、cut to the chaseの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "cut to the chase" 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：
英辞郎によると、

遠回しな言い方をやめる、さっさと［ずばり］要点を言う◆20世紀初頭のアメリカの無声映画、特に喜劇映画のクライマックスが「追跡シーン(chase sequence)」であり、また脈絡がなく突然追跡シーンが始まることが多かったことから。◆【同】get to the point

   

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

slang To reach the most important points quickly. This phrase is often used as an imperative.

   

Examples

• Come on, cut to the chase already—what exactly are you trying to ask me?
• I'm a very busy woman, so I need an assistant who can cut to the chase.
• I didn't have long to talk so I cut to the chase and asked whether he was still married.
• Hi everyone, we all know why we are here today, so let's cut to the chase.
• I'm going to cut to the chase about the Tesla. - Times, Sunday Times (2014)

   

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Question of the Day #873

Rather unexpectedly, Lebanon's former ambassador to the UN put his hat in the ring.

From the 5th paragraph of this article at BBC.com.

  上記の文で、put one's hat in the ringの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "put one's hat in the ring" 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：
英辞郎にはこのイディオムはありませんが、同じ意味のthrow one's hat in the ringはあります。

競争に参加する、〔選挙に〕出馬［立候補］する

   

Answer

According to :

To announce or make known one's intention to compete with others, especially in a political election.

A slightly different version of this idiom is, "throw/toss one's hat in/into the ring."
 

語源

英辞郎によると、

リング内にいるボクサーに対して一般見物客が挑戦するとき、リング内に自分の帽子を投げ入れた。

 

Etymology

According to Dictionary.com,

This term comes from boxing, where throwing a hat in the ring formerly indicated a challenge; today the idiom nearly always refers to political candidacy. [c. 1900]

   

Examples

• I'm thinking about putting my hat in the ring for class president!
• The governor was slow to throw his hat in the ring in the senatorial race.
• She was delighted he decided to toss his cap into the ring and run for the local elections.
• Yet another candidate has chosen to throw their hat into the ring for the upcoming elections.
• As has been widely predicted, the governor put his hat into the ring yesterday for the upcoming presidential election.

   

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Question of the Day #872

Does This Story Have Legs?

From the headline of this article at VOA News.

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

1. 脚が速い
2. 永続性がある

問題文の場合は、当然2番目の訳です。
なお、上記の二つの訳以外に、見出しの記事に記してあるように"If something has legs, it means people have interest in it."（「〜has legsは、人がそれに関心を持っていることを意味します」）。
 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To have the ability to endure, stay relevant, or continue to maintain interest. Said of a concept, phenomenon, something discussed, etc.

   

Examples

• The business has legs.
• The American economy still has legs.
• Some economists believe that the recovery still has legs.
• Mr Blucher was confident that his concept had legs, so he persisted and pressed Mr Cooper for a meeting.
• That theory really has legs—years later, most people still think that the wrong man was convicted.

   

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Question of the Day #871

The defining factors in Wild Card series between Mariners and Blue Jays

From the headline of this article at Seattle Sports.

  上記の文で、wild cardの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "wild card" 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：
英辞郎によると、

1. 《トランプ》ワイルド［万能］カード◆どんなカードとしても使えるカードで、ジョーカーをワイルドカードにすることが多い。
2. 〈話〉不確定［不確実］要素、〔不確実だが〕重要な要素
3. 〈話〉何をするか分からない人物
4. 《コ》ワイルドカード◆検索などを行うときに使われる、どんな文字（列）にも合致する文字で、アスタリスク（＊）や疑問符(?)が使われることが多い。
5. 《スポーツ》ワイルドカード◆トーナメント戦に特別に参加を認められること、またはそのチームや選手を指す。予選で敗退したチームの中から勝率で上位のものが選ばれたり、主催者の推薦で参加が認められたりする。

問題文の場合、修飾語として使用されていますが5番目の訳が正解です。
また、さまざまな異なる意味があるので注意しましょう。
 

Answer

According to the Cambridge Dictionary:

1. a playing card that does not have any particular value but that can be used to represent any other card
2. in computers, a symbol that has no particular meaning of its own so that its space can be filled by any real character that is necessary
3. someone who is allowed to take part in a competition, even though they have not achieved this in the usual way, for example by winning games
4. someone or something whose behaviour is sometimes unexpected

 

Examples

• The team made it into the play-offs as the wild card.
• Seattle currently owns the second wild card spot at 87-72 with a 1 1/2 game lead over Tampa Bay. — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 4 Oct. 2022
• Phillips is hoping for a wild card entry to the championships.
• Catch up on the action from the first two wild card games. The Sun (2017)
• But it was mostly downhill after that and he needed a wild-card pick despite his world ranking. The Sun (2016)

   

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Question of the Day #870

What Does "OK Boomer" Mean? What Started as a Lighthearted Riff Is Now a Verified Internet Meme

From the headline of this article at Good Housekeeping.

  上記の文で、riffの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "riff" 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：
英辞郎によると、

1. リフ、反復楽句
2. 〔小説などの〕テーマ、主題、主題［テーマ］の繰り返し
3. 早口で即座に出る気の利いたせりふ［言い回し］

問題の見出しの場合の意味は、三番の訳になります。
   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

1. an ostinato phrase (as in jazz) typically supporting a solo improvisation
   also: a piece based on such a phrase
2. a rapid energetic often improvised verbal outpouring
   especially: one that is part of a comic performance
3. a succinct usually witty comment
4. a distinct variation: TAKE
   // a disturbing … riff on the Cinderella story — Daria Donnelly

   

Examples

• a mock news program with humorous riffs on current events
• Rowe does a very clever riff on the nature of prejudice.
• gave us another of his riffs on the decline of civilization.
• The audience screamed with laughter as Schumer ran through her jokes about buttholes, hyperemesis, and Viagra, and settled into a riff about her husband of five years, Chris Fischer. — Ariel Levy, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022
• Of course, Meyers found that note funny and had to riff with a joke. — Ryan Parker, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2022

   

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Question of the Day #869

UK PM says Russia 'bent on full invasion' of Ukraine -BBC

From the headline of this article at The Economic Times.

  上記の文で、bent onの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "bent on" 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：
英辞郎によると、

1. 《be ～》～を決意している
2. 《be ～》～に夢中になっている、～しようと決心している

   

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

Very determined to do something, perhaps aggravatingly so.

   

Examples

• She's bent on coming here for the weekend, so we better clean the guest room.
• I'm bent on getting an A on this exam, so I've been studying all week.
• He was bent on quitting his job even though he was making a lot of money.
• They seemed bent on destroying his career.
• They are bent on revenge.

   

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Question of the Day #868

By today, the day of her funeral, millions will have spent long hours, twenty-two, in some cases, in queues, stretching to five miles, patiently waiting to file into Westminster Hall, where the queen’s coffin lies in state, to pay their last respects.

From the 10th paragraph of this article at the KT Press.

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