Question of the Day #240

"Rod Rosenstein Jumps the Shark"
From the headline of this article at Politico.

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

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、


〈俗〉〔一時は人気があった存在・特にテレビドラマなどが〕落ち目になる、人気回復を狙って悪あがき［やたらと派手なことを］する

Answer

According to yourdictionary.com:

Jump the shark is defined as something that was previously successful but has now gone downhill.

Etymology/語源

英辞郎によると、

アメリカのテレビドラマHappy Days（1974-1984）に登場人物が水上スキーで「サメを飛び越える」場面があり、それ以降だんだん話がつまらなくなったという。

According to Wiktionary.org:

From "Hollywood (Part 3)", a 1977 episode of the TV series Happy Days, in which the character Fonzie jumped over a shark on waterskis, after which (supposedly) the show bore no similarity to its original form.

Examples

• he global tech giant, whose smartphone brand transformed the everyday technological landscape, seems to have jumped the shark this week when they revealed a line of computer-synced sneakers touted as their new flagship product.
• The governor was accused of jumping the shark during his re-election campaign by joining in with the cheerleading squad at his former high school's football game.
• A TV show's sure "jump-the-shark" sign: the appearance of a "special guest star".
• Tom Cruise jumped the shark the moment he jumped Oprah's couch.
• This show used to have some of the wittiest writing in television, but they really jumped the shark when they introduced a contrived alien invasion in the seventh season.

Question of the Day #239

"Donald Trump, a Playboy Model, and a System for Concealing Infidelity"
From the headline of this article at The New Yorker.

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

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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：
英辞郎の訳の中で最も適切なのは、


1. 不貞、不義、背信
2. 〔配偶者などの〕不倫、浮気

なお、今回の問題の見出しは、女優のMia Farrowと俳優・映画監督のWoody Allenの間の息子のRowan Farrowが書いた記事のものです。Rowan Farrowは、先日、Harvey Weinsteinのセクハラ暴露記事でピューリッツァー賞を受賞しました。

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

1. unfaithfulness to a moral obligation
2. the act or fact of having a romantic or sexual relationship with someone other than one's husband, wife, or partner

Etymology/語源

によると、

15世紀初期頃から「人に対する不義または背信」（もとは、君主に対するもので、16世紀から恋人や配偶者に対するもの）。フランス語のinfidélitéまたはラテン語のinfidelitatemから。

According to :

(early 15c.) "unfaithfulness or disloyalty to a person" (originally to a sovereign, by 16c. to a lover or spouse), from French infidélité (12c.) or directly from Latin infidelitatem

Examples

• Fred learns later, at Warren's (Stephen Kunken) trial for infidelity with Janine, however, that the wives do have some power. — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, "'The Handmaid's Tale': Where we left off in Season 1," 24 Apr. 2018
• The otherwise happy occasion was marked by reports of infidelity on Tristan's part, with several videos leaking that appeared to show Tristan kissing and being intimate with other women while he was involved with Khloé. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Wait—Did the Hollywood Medium Predict the Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson Drama?," 14 Apr. 2018
• Khloé Kardashian has the support of her best friend as allegations of infidelity continue to swirl around the Keeping Up with the Kardashian star’s boyfriend, Tristan Thompson.
—
Natalie Stone, PEOPLE.com, "Khloé Kardashian's BFF Tells New Mom She's 'Right by Your Side' Following Tristan's Scandal," 13 Apr. 2018


• She could not forgive his many infidelities.
• The public conversation about infidelity has undoubtedly become more nuanced.

Question of the Day #238

"Pruitt fast-tracked California cleanup after Hugh Hewitt brokered meeting"
From the headline of this article at Politico.

上記の文で、fast-trackedの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "fast-tracked" 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：
英辞郎の訳の中で最も適切なのは、


～を急速に昇進［発展］させる

なお、名詞のfast trackには、下記の意味があります。

1. 急行列車用線路
2. 出世コース、出世街道

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

to speed up the processing, production, or construction of in order to meet a goal

Etymology/語源

Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、

Fast trackは、もともと1934年からの競馬用語で、最も早く走ることが許される走路のことをいう。比喩的な使い方は1960年代から。

According to Online Etymology Dictionary:

the fast track originally was in horse-racing (1934), one that permits maximum speed; figurative sense by 1960s.

Examples

• Moreover, killing bin Laden gave him the consummation he most devoutlywished, namely a fast-track to paradise.
• A bill could come to the Senate floor as early as Wednesday, and theadministration is aiming to fast-track the legislation.
• His passport application was fast-tracked.
• A Federal Court case had been fast tracked to Wednesday.
• Woodward has fast-tracked a number of youngsters into the line-up since he became coach.

Question of the Day #237

"The Memo: Trump's legal moves roil Washington"
From the headline of this article at The Hill.

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

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、


乱れる、（かくはんされて）濁る、混乱する

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

to move turbulently : be in a state of turbulence or agitation conflicting emotions

Etymology/語源

Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、

1580年代から使われているが、語源がはっきりしない。

According to Online Etymology Dictionary:

1580s, of uncertain origin.

Examples

• Financial markets have been roiled by the banking crisis.
• the waters of the gulf tossed and roiled as the hurricane surged toward the shore
• The rain turned a small creek into a roiling surge.
• The country faces a roiling financial crisis.
• A year after the fall of Col. Muammar Gaddafi, violence continues to roilLibya, heightening fears that the revolution could fail.

Question of the Day #236

"New Revelations Suggest a President Losing Control of His Narrative"
From the headline of this article at the New York Times.

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

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、


1. 物語、談話
2. 話術、語り口
3. 〔文学作品の〕物語部

ですが、この例の場合は、どれも今ひとつピンときません。そこで、私だったら、「筋書き」に訳します。

Answer

According to Dictionary.com:

a story that connects and explains a carefully selected set ofsupposedly true events, experiences, or the like, intended to supporta particular viewpoint or thesis

Etymology/語源

Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、

「お話、物語」の意味は、1560年代より。中期フランス語のnarrativeと形容詞のnarrativeから。

According to Online Etymology Dictionary:

"a tale, story," 1560s, from Middle French narrative and from narrative (adj.).

Examples

• to rewrite the prevailing narrative about masculinity
• the narrativethat our public schools are failing
• The other narrative is of mobility in the service of ambition.
• Tethered to only the slightest narrative, the film evokes the experience of early love and disappointment in a manner both sharp and tender. — Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader, "Film / Foreign A Scene at the Sea is an early masterpiece from Takeshi Kitano," 27 Apr. 2018
• People have questioned the accuracy of his narrative.

Question of the Day #235

"Trump’s fixers revolt"
From the headline of this article at Politico.

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

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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：
英辞郎の訳の中には、


1. フィクサー、取り付ける人、修理工
2. まとめ役、仲介者、調停者、弁護士、〔事件を〕もみ消す人、麻薬密売人
3. 〔競技・競争などで〕八百長を仕組む人

と訳はたくさんあり、例題の場合は２番目が一番適切だと思いますが、それでも複数の人を指すので一つだけ選ぶのは難しく、日本語で同じニュアンスの言葉がない。したがって、ある意味「逃げ」になるけれど、「フィクサー」として訳すのが一番いいかもしれません。ただし、負のニュアンスが強い言葉であることに注意してください。

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

one that fixes: such as

1. a person who intervenes to enable someone to circumvent the law or obtain a political favor
2. a person who adjusts matters or disputes by negotiation

Etymology/語源

Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、

「困った事態を直す」人という意味は1885年より

According to Online Etymology Dictionary:

1885 as a person who "makes things right;"

Examples

• Scandal, one-third of Rhimes' Thursday night empire, put a black woman as the lead of a primetime drama for the first time since 1974, with Washington as D.C. fixer Olivia Pope. — Anika Reed, USA TODAY, "'Scandal' series finale recap: Olivia Pope finally puts herself first," 20 Apr. 2018
• As an international fixer, Mr. Giuliani has developed something of a niche for working in — and with — troubled or unsavory regimes. — New York Times, "In Defending Trump, Giuliani Will Lean on His Rolodex and Reputation,"20 Apr. 2018
• If the arrangement was for Cohen to be the fixer and to protect Trump, that plausibly could involve doing things Trump didn't know about. — Aaron Blake, Washington Post, "Trump’s first tweet about Stormy Daniels makes no sense — and he may regret it," 18 Apr. 2018
• His fixer, who Barfi said was affiliated with the Islamist Tawhid brigade, was set free 15 days later.
• And one of them sometimes says she will be a fixer, like Dad, when she grows up.

Question of the Day #234

"Impeachment looms large in White House midterm plans"
From the headline of this article at .

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

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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、


〔危険・心配などが〕大きく迫る［立ちはだかる］

この他に、下記英語ので意義でわかるように、

重要なことや大きな影響を持つこと

という意味もあります。

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

to have great importance or influence

Examples

• Rising tuition costs loom large in the minds of many parents.
• She was a critic who loomed large in literary circles.
• The issue of pay will loom large at this year's conference.
• As long as a more comprehensive solution remains elusive, the risks of failure will continue to loom large.
• For every kind of leader, the apparent perils of the flip-flop label can loom large.