Ichiro's speech on his induction to the Baseball HOF/イチローのMLB殿堂入りの時のスピーチ

Question of the Day #1278

Dr Ziauddin Hospital, Ziauddin University ‘gird one’s loins’ to ensure best aid to flood-affected

From the headline of this article at the Daily National Courier.

  上記の文で、gird one's loinsの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "gird one's loins" 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：
英辞郎ではgird up one's loinsしか掲載されていませんが、意味は同じです。それは、

気持ちを引き締める

   

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To prepare oneself to face or contend with something.

 

語源

Dictionary.comによると、

この語句は、聖書の箴言31：17に由来している。元は伝統的な長いローブをガードル（ベルト）で締めて身動きを妨げないようにすることを暗示していました。

 

Etymology

According to Dictionary.com:

This comes from the Bible (Proverbs 31:17) and originally alluded to tucking up the traditional long robe into a girdle (that is, a belt) so it will not hamper physical activity. [c. 1600]

   

Examples

1. You better gird your loins in preparation for another holiday with my dysfunctional family!
2. They better gird up their loins—the weather up there is no joke.
3. Everyone, gird your loins—the CEO is on his way down, and he is not happy.
4. We girded our loins to face our competitors.
5. In other words: if we don't win it, it's your fault, and gird your loins for the backlash. Times, Sunday Times (2018)

   

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Question of the Day #1277

Ben Shapiro is cracking under the pressure to shill for Trump

From the headline of this article at Salon.

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

[名]

1. 〈米俗・軽蔑的〉〔賭博・競売などの〕サクラ、おとり
2. 〈米俗・軽蔑的〉〔商品などを積極的に売ろうとする〕宣伝［広告］担当者

[自動]
〈米俗・軽蔑的〉〔賭博・競売などの〕サクラになる
[他動]

1. 〈米俗・軽蔑的〉〔賭博・競売などの〕サクラになる
2. 〔サクラになって人を〕だます、引っかける

   

Answer

According to :

verb (intransitive)

1. to act as a shill
2. to act as a spokesperson or promoter

noun

1.  
   1. one who acts as a decoy (as for a pitchman or gambler)
   2. one who makes a sales pitch or serves as a promoter
2. PITCH

 

Examples

1. Use the power of your vote to elect gun control candidates and reject those who shill for the gun lobby. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2022
2. Even the most famous influencers, the ones who get deals with luxury brands, all seem to be shilling for the platform lately. — Maura Judkis, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2023
3. Godzilla has been recruited to shill a range of products in commercials, from Snickers to Fiat cars. — Clark Collis, EW.com, 3 Nov. 2019
4. Of course, this is not the first time Messi has acted as a shill for Saudi Arabia. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 10 May 2023
5. Avast also alerted both TikTok and Instagram to the shill accounts doing the promotions. — Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 22 Sep. 2020

   

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Question of the Day #1276

Sam Altman: OpenAI has been on the ‘wrong side of history’ concerning open source

From the headline of this article at TechCrunch.

  上記の文で、on the wrong side of (something)の意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "on the wrong side of (something)" 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. ～の間違った側に、～の不利な側に、～の反対側に、～の悪い方に属して
2. （人）に嫌われて
3. 〔年齢が〕～の坂を越えて

上記の三つの訳でわかるように対象によって意味が違います。
On the wrong side ofの反対の意味でon the right side ofということができます。また、イディオムの他に、直訳として「誤った側」「正しい側」という意味になります。
さらに人を対象とした場合、on the wrong side of ~ と同じ意味でon (someone's) right sideという言い方もできます。

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

doing things that cause someone to like or dislike one

 

Examples

1. Still there’s a sense that, on Gaza, Biden has gotten on the wrong side of a chunk of his base. — Tribune News Service, Orange County Register, 27 Feb. 2024
2. Why is she dressing like a teenager when she is clearly the wrong side of 40?
3. The best way to get through this class is to say nothing unless called upon, and to make sure you don't get on the wrong side of the teacher!
4. I thought it was all in good fun, but I might have gotten on the wrong side of her with my sarcastic comments.
5. Parslow said, `Not a chap to get on the wrong side of, Dog. Ruell, Patrick THE ONLY GAME (2003)

   

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Question of the Day #1275

上の画像の包装形態を英語で何と言うでしょうか？

What is the method of packaging in the image above called?

答えは、コメントに書いてください。
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解答

 

Blister pack

です。

 

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Question of the Day #1274

My Mother Is a Force of Nature

From the headline of this article at The Kit.

  上記の文で、force of natureの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "force of nature" 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：
英辞郎では、

自然力、自然児

とあります。直訳は確かに「自然力」になります。それでは、イディオムとして「自然児」は正しいのでしょうか。
コトバンクによると、自然児の定義は、「世俗の因習などにけがされていない純真無垢な者。また、あかぬけしないわがままで粗野な者。」なので、英語のイディオムの意味とは全く違います。
そこで、下記Oxford English Dictionaryの定義を参照しましょう。簡単に訳すと「『エネルギーに満ちた』または『強いカリスマがある』または『決意が非常に硬い』等のために、その存在を無視・否定・拒否することができない人」になります。

 

Answer

According to the Oxford English Dictionary:

A person whose energy, charisma, and determination are hard to ignore, deny, or resist.

   

Examples

1. You might as well try to do something about an earthquake or a tidal wave. Mrs. Charybdis is a force of nature.
- Vanity Fair (New York) June 74/2
2. Newton was a force of nature, brilliant and unapproachable as a star. - T. Ferris, Coming of Age in Milky Way (1989) i. vi. 119
3. Giannis is still in the heart of his prime and remains a force of nature. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2025
4. One was a great coach & character while Lenny was a force of nature. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2024
5. For more than five decades, Chaka Khan has remained a force of nature—an artist whose voice, style, and presence defined an era. — Okla Jones, Essence, 21 Feb. 2025

   

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Great News!!!!

After going to a subscription model, it appears that the Oxford English Dictionary is now free to use again!
Oxford English Dictionaryは一時サブスクになっていましたが、また無料で使用できるようになったようです。

Oxford English Dictionary

Question of the Day #1273

‘Killing Eve’ Review: A Trip to Russia Leaves Sandra Oh Twiddling Her Thumbs in a Frustrating Episode

From the headline of this article at Indie Wire.

  上記の文で、twiddle one's thumbsの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "twiddle one's thumbs" 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. 両手の指を組んで親指同士をクルクル回す
2. 〔暇なので〕のんびりしている

1番の訳のように、本当の行為を示すこともありますが、実際は比喩的に使用することがほとんどです。
また、ただ「のんびりしている」だけではなく、問題の見出しのように何か理由があって「のんびりせざるを得ない」ことを意味することもあります。

 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To wait idly because one cannot take action or has nothing to do at the moment. Although the phrase refers to an actual movement of the hand (in which one's fingers are interlaced and each thumb is brought over the other in succession), the phrase is usually used figuratively.

 

Examples

1. I'm just twiddling my thumbs here in the ER, waiting for someone to give me an update on Claire's condition.
2. What am I supposed to do while waiting for you? Sit here and twiddle my thumbs? Don't sit around twiddling your thumbs. Get busy!
3. There I sat for three hours, twiddling my thumbs, while he made call after call.
4. With her grandson still twiddling his thumbs on the bench, Dolores has now become the main attraction. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 15 May 2025
5. Rather than twiddling thumbs and waiting for veterans like Pederson, García and Semien to get going, the Rangers made a decisive move to bring in someone new. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 14 May 2025

   

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Question of the Day #1272

X-Men Erased: Marvel Doubling Down On Ms. Marvel Retcon

From the headline of this article at Cosmic Book News.

  上記の文で、retconの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "retcon" 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. 【名】
   〈俗〉〔物語で〕過去にさかのぼる設定の補完◆「彼には実はこういう過去があった」などと後から付け足したり、「前作で死んだはずの人物が実は生きていた」などと軌道修正すること◆【語源】retroactive continuity
2. 【他動】
   〈俗〉〔物語で～についての〕過去を新たに設定する

Retconに関して、もっと詳しいことを知りたければ、ぜひA Short History of 'Retcon'を参照してください。

 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

1. noun
   the act, practice, or result of changing an existing fictional narrative by introducing new information in a later work that recontextualizes previously established events, characters, etc.
2. transitive verb
   to apply a retcon to (a fictional story, character, event, etc.)

  Check out A Short History of 'Retcon' for more information about the word retcon.

Examples

1. Could Bail's Backstory—and by extension the childhood of Princess Leia—suddenly be getting a retcon? — Ryan Britt
2. The character has done everything from going into dormancy after losing his powers to being destroyed to being brought back via retcon … — Sage Ashford
3. Then came the series finale, and one of the most famous—and, depending on one's perspective, fascinating or infuriating—retcons in the history of TV. — Emily Nussbaum
4. The Sherlock Holmes character has been retconned dozens of times in various media. — Peter Hartlaub
5. The revival won't be retconning the original ending. — Marco Vito

   

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Question of the Day #1271

The Endless Potential Of The Pedal Steel Guitar, An Odd Duck By Any Measure

From the headline of this article at NPR.org.

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

《an ～》変わり者、変人

問題の見出しにあるように人間以外にも使えることに注意してください。（例文参照）


 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

A rather unusual, strange, or peculiar person.

   

Examples

1. His new girlfriend is nice enough, but she's a bit of an odd duck, don't you think?
2. "Oh, sure, I remember him from when I was a kid," [Lynn] Hewlett says. "… He was always aloof. Wouldn't speak to anyone. He was an odd duck. …" — Mel White
3. Mikasa Callie Mikasa Callie Bone China 12 Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4 in White $120 $78 Amazon The Mikasa Callie dishware set is a bit of an odd duck. —Tom Mylan, Bon Appétit, 26 Feb. 2025
4. Italia is an odd duck, both the story’s voice of conscience and a source of comic relief, a figure of fun and possibility. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024
5. Apple In the pantheon of Macintosh, there are odd ducks, then there is the Macintosh XL. —Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2024

   

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Question of the Day #1270

The evolution of preferred male traits, female preference and the G matrix: “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”

From the headline of this article at Nature.com.

  上記の文で、be not in Kansas anymoreの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "not in Kansas anymore" 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：
Y-Sapix Global Campusによると、

オズの魔法使いの中の「Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.」というセリフから、「not in Kansas anymore」という慣用句表現が生まれました。これは「もはや、穏やかで安心できる環境ではない」という意味で使われます。

映画The Wizard of Oz（「オズの魔法使い」）は、1939年に初上映され、そして1949年と1955年に2度映画館で再上映されました。そして1956年から1991年の間、ほぼ毎年アメリカで全国放送されたので、観たことのないアメリカ人は皆無に等しいと思います。それだけ長いこと放送され愛された映画なので、このnot in Kansas anymoreというイディオムが定着したのでしょう。

 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To no longer be in a place that one knows or where one is comfortable; to be in a completely unfamiliar or discomfiting environment. A reference to The Wizard of Oz, in which Dorothy, upon arriving to Oz, says, "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

 

Examples

1. As we walked into the bustling streets of Delhi, we knew we weren't in Kansas anymore.
2. It can actually be quite shocking to finish college and enter the workforce, because suddenly you realize that you aren't in Kansas anymore and life operates in a totally different way now.
3. “We’re not in Kansas anymore,” he joked in a release announcing the venture. (Furniture Today Magazine)
4. From the moment the door is opened by the heavily made up Riff Raff (Brad Foster Reinking), and the slinky, slithering Phantoms swarm around them, Brad and Janet begin to realize that they’re not in Kansas anymore, so to speak. (Broadway World)
5. As soon as I walked into that party I thought, "I'm not in Kansas anymore."

   

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Question of the Day #1269

Carl Thompson needs to get something off his chest.

From the lede of this article at ABC.net.au.

  上記の文で、get something off one's chestの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "get something off one's chest" 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、

胸の内を明かさなければ

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

to tell someone about (something that has been making one upset or unhappy)

 

Examples

1. You've been a little cold to me lately. Is there something you'd like to get off your chest?
2. I'm sorry but I just have to get something off my chest. How could you treat me like that last night?
3. You're clearly annoyed, so go on, get it off your chest—what's bothering you?
4. I had to tell someone what had happened at the office to get it off my chest!
5. My doctor gave me the opportunity to talk and get things off my chest.

   

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Question of the Day #1268

Here is a picture of Arrowhead Lanes from back in the day

From the headline of this article at Smile Politely.

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

〈米俗〉ずっと前、昔々◆back in the day when ... の略。

   

Answer

According to the Cambridge Dictionary:

used for talking about a time in the past, usually when you are remembering nice things about that time

 

Examples

1. Back in the day, we had an apartment with a swimming pool.
2. An artist or producer or engineer from back in the day wouldn't think fondly of surface noise on their records.
3. Nevertheless, this was a major accomplishment back in the day.
4. Back in the day, that's what we wanted to sound like when we were younger.
5. The live program featured children in the audience and like most children shows back in the day featured fun, games, safety tips and cartoons.

   

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