Question of the Day #1199

It’s Time To Play The Devil’s Advocate

From the headline of this article at Forbes.

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

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

1. わざと反対する人◆多数意見の正当性を確認するため、または単に議論を引き起こすために、あえて少数意見に賛成を唱える人。◆【参考】play devil's advocate
2. カトリック》列聖調査審問検事◆列聖(canonization)の候補者に対して、反対意見をのべる役目の人。

言うまでもないと思いますが、2番目の訳から1番目の意味が生まれています。

 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

1. a Roman Catholic official whose duty is to examine critically the evidence on which a demand for beatification or canonization rests
2. a person who champions the less accepted cause for the sake of argument

 

Examples

1. Teachers often play devil's advocate to provoke discussion in the classroom.
2. I don't really believe all that - I was just playing devil's advocate.
3. Often the interviewer will need to play devil's advocate in order to get a discussion going.
4. Increasingly, the dynamic world that businesses operate in requires new ways of thinking and diverse perspectives from many devil's advocates to help drive growth. —Thomas Jensen, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023
5. Having a culture that is constantly playing devil's advocate can disarm the casual disagreements and feel like an organic response as opposed to a clash. —Expert Panel, Forbes, 13 May 2021

   

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Question of the Day #1198

Will You Make Good on Your New Year’s Resolution?

From the headline of this article at the Harvard Business Review.

  上記の文で、Make good onとNew Year's resolutionの意味は？
In the sentence above, what do "make good on" and "New Year's resolution" 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make good onの訳は、

1. ～を遂行［履行］する
2. ～を返済［清算］する、～について弁償する

  英辞郎によるとNew Year's resolutionの訳は、

新年の誓い［決意・抱負］、元旦の決心

英辞郎はなぜか誓い・決意・決心の訳を使っていますが、この場合は日本語で普通に使っている「新年の抱負」でいいと思います。

 

Answer

  According to The Free Dictionary "make good on" means:

To fulfill an obligation, such as keeping a promise or paying a debt.

  According to Merriam-Webster "New Year's resolution" means:

a promise to do something differently in the new year

 

Examples

Make good on

1. You better make good on all the things you said you would deliver, or the client is not going to be happy.
2. Trust me, I always make good on my debts, OK?
3. My grandfather said he would pay for me to go to college, and he made good on that promise.
4. He was confident the allies would make good on their pledges.
5. He made good on that promise with arrival of his Netflix stand-up special “What Had Happened Was.” From Los Angeles Times

New Year's resolution

1. Her New Year's resolution is to exercise regularly.
2. "Have you made any New Year's resolutions?" "Yes, I'm going to eat more healthily and give up smoking."
3. My New Year's resolution this year is to spend less time playing Solitaire on the computer.
4. I stopped making New Year resolutions when I realized that I never kept any of them.
5. His New Year resolution to give up smoking had lasted exactly three hours, and he wheezed as he spoke. Forbes, Bryan A SONG AT TWILIGHT

   

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Question of the Day #1197

Furiously writing in dark-room chicken scratch, I try to capture quotes from the comics when I can, while laughing with Marisa at the punch lines.

From the 3rd paragraph of this article at the UCLA Center for the Study of Women.

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

すさまじい悪筆◆鶏が引っかいた足跡のような筆跡

   

Answer

According to Dictionary.com:

handwriting of words or symbols that is too messy or roughly drawn to be easily read

 

Examples

1. They need precise specs for the remodeling, but these drawings and dimensions are just chicken scratch.
2. Milo left us a note, but can anyone figure out his chicken scratch?
3. Understanding his chicken scratches would've been difficult enough, but his English was really old-fashioned as well.
4. Studies have shown that electronic records can reduce medical errors - sometimes the result of chicken-scratch handwriting.
5. “I’m terrible at drawing. And my handwriting is like chicken scratch. Sometimes when I read notes I took during class, I can’t understand what I wrote. It’s bad.”
A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks

   

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Question of the Day #1196

Design Wind Speed for Buildings and Facilities With Non-Standard Design Life in Canadian Wind Climates

From the headline of this article at Frontiers.

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

設計寿命

もっと簡単にいうと「ある部品や製品の使用が開始されてから消耗・故障するまで期間」です。

 

Answer

According to Definitions.net:

The design life of a component or product is the period of time during which the item is expected by its designers to work within its specified parameters; in other words, the life expectancy of the item.

 

Examples

1. The design life of buildings essentially means the life expectancy, or how long they can be expected to last based on the materials, products, techniques used – etc.
2. Many products employ design life as one factor of their differentiation from competing products and components.
3. What “design life” means will depend on the particular facts and terms of each contract.
4. We're working these airplanes beyond their design life so that when they do have to go in for maintenance they stay there longer because there are more problems to fix.
5. If you are not designing these structures for the seismic intensity that they may face in their design life, these structures may not perform well.

   

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Question of the Day #1195

Sleek Mid-Century Modern Portland Home for Under $500k Is a Sight for Sore Eyes

From the headline of this article at Dengarden.

  上記の文で、sight for sore eyesの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "sight for sore eyes" 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 ～》珍客、見るもうれしいもの、目の保養になるもの

問題の見出しの場合の対象は不動産の価格なので、「安くて嬉しい限り」に意訳するのが妥当かと思います。

 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

Someone or something that one is excited or overjoyed to see, often after a long absence or separation.

 

Examples

1. Charlie, I can't believe you're back in town! Get over here, you're a sight for sore eyes!
2. After all that rain, the sun sure is a sight for sore eyes!
3. The garden, with its many trees and shrubs, is always a sight for sore eyes.
4. The designer's ultra-chic, hooded floor-length dresses were a sight for sore eyes.
5. After our many days in the desert, the wretched village was a sight for sore eyes

   

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Question of the Day #1194

The unhinged crusade to find Israel guilty of genocide

From the headline of this article at Spiked.

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

〔精神的に〕不安定な、気の動転した、動揺した、錯乱した

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

highly disturbed, unstable, or distraught

 

Examples

1. Somewhere along the way, her pursuit of a hot guy turned into unhinged obsession. — Cosmopolitan
2. Maybe that’s why unhinged guests took the spotlight this week. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Aug. 2021
3. I sometimes think that your mother is a little unhinged.
4. The others were upset, of course, but he was completely unhinged.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5. Scraps of red food dot his dark beard, and his eyes are wild and unhinged.
It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

   

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Question of the Day #1193

Bill Nicoletti hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with his film ‘The Philly Sound Heard ‘Round The World’

From the headline of this article at the Ocean City Sentinel.

  上記の文で、catch lightning in a bottleの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "catch lightning in a bottle" 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、

奇跡を起こす

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

to succeed in a way that is very lucky or unlikely

 

Examples

1. So far we’re underdogs this season, and will have to catch lightning in a bottle to make the playoffs.
2. The network is seeking to catch lightning in a bottle twice by rebooting the popular series.
3. A: "Wow, those two young actors have such a natural, easy chemistry—their love story really feels authentic." B: "I know, the casting director caught lightning in a bottle with those two."
4. But for many aspiring writers, crafting authentic and engaging dialogue can feel like trying to capture lightning in a bottle. — Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2024
5. For Theroux, a feature-length documentary film is the opposite of that, a way to capture lightning in a bottle, and to freeze the star in time. — Simran Hans, Variety, 13 Jan. 2023

   

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Question of the Day #1192

The Justice Department (DoJ) has them dead to rights and they will be going away for a long, long time.

From the 7th paragraph of this article at Disruption Banking.

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

〈米話〉〔犯人逮捕などが〕現行犯で、現場で

下記英語の定義にあるように、この場合の"to rights"は「直ちに・すぐに」の意味です。

 

Answer

According to Dictionary.com:

In the act of committing an error or crime, red-handed...This phrase uses to rights in the sense of “at once.”

 

Examples

1. They caught the burglars dead to rights with the Oriental rugs.
2. Even if a kid is caught dead to rights with alcohol, we can't punish him.
3. Because of the video replay, the ref had him dead to rights on the penalty.
4. They finally caught the thief dead to rights with thousands of dollars in stolen goods.
5. The politician was caught dead to rights in a massive corruption scandal that tanked his career.

   

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Question of the Day #1191

Google Cloud Q3 Haymaker: Punches Microsoft, AWS Far Above its Weight

From the headline of this article at Cloud Wars.

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

〈俗〉強打、強烈な一撃、ノックアウトパンチ、大打撃

もともとボクシング用語ですが、そこから他のスポーツや他の分野でも使用されるようになりました。

 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

a powerful blow

 

Examples

1. In the 10th round, both fighters traded haymakers for the full three minutes.
2. One fighter in red begins by throwing a wild haymaker punch. Times, Sunday Times (2014)
3. Throwing haymakers could be a two-way street, however, in the arena fast food built. — Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2023
4. Then, just as you’re getting settled, along comes the haymaker of Episode 6. — Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2023
5. And if the solution includes a haymaker or two, so be it. — Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com, 15 Aug. 2019

   

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Question of the Day #1190

Why Some People Keep Pushing Their Partner's Buttons

From the headline of this article at Psychology Today.

  上記の文で、push someone's buttonの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "push someone's button" 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、

1. （人）を怒らせる
2. （人）の琴線に触れる［心を巧みにつかむ］

   

Answer

According to Your Dictionary:

to arouse, often in a manipulative way, someone's interest, anger, sympathy, etc.

 

Examples

1. advertising that pushes our buttons and makes us want to buy
2. Communicating with a difficult family member can be challenging, but you probably have at least some idea of what tends to “push their buttons” in a conversation.
3. People like to be around type Bs because it takes a lot for them to get frustrated, so it's unlikely you'll ever push their buttons.
4. However, when you push their buttons, their personalities completely change, turning them into fearsome and intimidating opponents.
5. We all know our partner's weaknesses and how to push their buttons.

   

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Question of the Day #1189

What is OG Fortnite? Everything you need to know

From the headline of this article at Khel Now.

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

〈米俗〉最初期の存在、本家、元祖、パイオニア◆【語源】もともとは、original gangstaのイニシャルで「ギャングスタ・ラップ（gangsta rap＝ラップ音楽の一種）の元祖。亜流ではない」というほどの意味。転じて、一般に「出発点となった存在」。◆語源的には略語だが、略さない形で使われることはない。先輩を指す日本語表現「OB」「OG」とは無関係。
【形】 〈米俗〉本家の、本場の、元祖の、最古の

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

someone or something that is an original or originator and especially one that is highly respected or regarded

 

Examples

1. "Serial," the OG of podcasting, returned for a new season.
2. There are a lot of books about vampire romance — which do you consider to be OGs?
3. For me the OG Star Wars movies are the best.
4. This goth kid in my English class is trying to write in the OG style of Edgar Allan Poe.
5. Justin Bieber’s manager had the nerve to compare Justin to the OG Bob Dylan.

   

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Question of the Day #1188

Corruption and conflict: hand in glove

From the headline of this article at NATO Review.

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

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
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解答

意味：
Weblioによると、

(…と)きわめて親しい間柄で、(特に悪事で)ぐるになって、結託して

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

in extremely close relationship or agreement

 

Examples

1. The U.N. inspectors work hand in glove with the Western intelligence agencies.
2. They have been working hand in glove and are both to blame. The Guardian (2018)
3. It was rumoured at the time that some of the gangs were working hand in glove with the police.
4. On the Italian side of things, everyone knows that pizza is a hand in glove pairing with beer. — Bob Townsend, ajc, 16 Oct. 2019
5. Russia’s main security service, the F.S.B., worked hand in glove with the military and state television to project the illusion of success — and to conceal the dysfunction. —Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 16 Dec. 2022

   

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Question of the Day #1187

Here’s the Thing About that “New” Supreme Court Ethics Code

From the headline of this article at Slate.

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

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

困ったことがあるの。◆これから述べることに頭を悩ませている。

「困ったことがあるの」とありますが、これだけではありません。下記英語の定義にあるように「要点や重要事項」を話すときにも使います。また、これまで話した点に問題がある場合にも使うことがあります。
ただし、最近のラジオやポッドキャストでは、口癖のようにかなり頻繁に使用する人がいるので以前ほど重みはないように思います。

 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

Used to introduce a statement meant to offer important insight into or information about someone or something.

 

Examples

1. “I’d love to join your tour of the deepest cave in the world, but ‘here’s the thing’—-I’m claustrophobic.”
2. “I’d love to join your investment venture, but ‘here’s the thing’—I just declared personal bankruptcy.”
3. A: "I don't understand. Weren't you happy with my work?" B: "I am, Tom, but here's the thing. The industry is evolving rapidly, and we just don't have a position like yours in our plans for the future."
4. A: "I don't get why she's acting this way." B: "Here's the thing about Sally. One moment, she's your best friend in the whole world. The next, she barely gives you the time of day."
5. OK, here's the thing about this car. If you don't press on the gas pedal just right, the engine will stall whenever you try to start it.

   

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