Question of the Day #1287

As a Platonist, Sternberg Is NOT Out on a Limb by Himself — At All

From the headline of this article at Science & Culture Today.

  上記の文で、out on a limbの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "out on a limb" 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. 枝先に身を乗り出して
2. 一歩間違えれば落ちてしまう危険な状態で、危険な［不利な］立場［状況］で
3. 〔誰にも助けてもらえず〕独りぼっちの状態で、孤立して

いつものように、英辞郎は直訳を一番目に掲載していますが、イディオムである2番目と3番目の訳はそれに基づいています。

 

Answer

According to the Cambridge Dictionary:

1. having an opinion that is different from most people's and is unpopular
2. in a situation where something bad could happen to you and you are not well protected

 

Examples

1. She's going out on a limb in criticizing her own party leadership.
2. The uninsured aren't left entirely out on a limb - you will be always treated for medical crises at hospital emergency rooms.
3. By failing to address these problems, the report leaves small producers out on a limb.
4. Better to have politicians and experts who study the pressing issues of the day and go out on a limb rather than shrug their shoulders. From Los Angeles Times
5. One person I was struck by was Sen. Chris Van Hollen when he went to El Salvador; putting people first and trying something that he had no idea whether this was going to help at all, but he was willing to go out on a limb like that. From Salon

   

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