Question of the Day #640

Planning to retire early? Get your ducks in a row

From the headline of this article at The Standard.

上記の文で、get your ducks in a rowの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "get your ducks in a row" 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.

---

解答

意味：
英辞郎や他のオンライン辞書に掲載されていないため、下記The Free Dictionaryの定義を訳すと、

自分の準備や状況を整えるように行動を起こすこと

になります。

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To take action to become well-organized, prepared, and/or up-to-date.

語源

Grammaristによると、

Get one's ducks in a rowとhave one's ducks in a rowは、アメリカ由来のイディオムですが、その語源ははっきりしない。一説によると、1700年代に流行したlawn bowlingという競技のピンがduck pinと呼ばれてそれを並べることからきたとされる。別の説によると、射的上の錫でできたアヒルの的が並んでいることからきたとされる。また、実際のアヒルや鴨のひなが一列になって母親鳥の後ろを追うことからきているとしている。

Etymology

According to Grammarist,

Get one’s ducks in a row and have one’s ducks in a row are American idioms, the origin of these phrases is murky. One possible origin is a lawn bowling game that was popular in the 1700s, which involved setting up duck pins, obviously, in a row. Another possible inspiration for the term get one’s ducks in a row is the way in which tin ducks are lined up in a shooting gallery. A third possibility comes from actual ducks and the way in which ducklings line up when following their mothers.

Examples

• The government needs to get its ducks in a row.
• “I would think before they implement this, they should get their ducks in a row.” (The Des Moines Register)
• In a fast-paced market with limited supply, get your ducks in a row before you shop. (The Kiplinger)
• Make sure Finance gets their ducks in a row before the audit.
• We need to get our ducks in a row to ensure that there are no problems at home while we're gone on our trip.

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #639

Charlie Ripley, a senior investment strategist for Allianz, said the legislation is a shot in the arm to speed up recovery from the pandemic.

From the 9th paragraph of this article at Business Insider.

上記の文で、a shot in the armの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "a shot in the arm" 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.

---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

1. 《a ～》〈比喩〉元気を回復させるもの
2. 《a ～》〔人に行動を起こさせる〕強い刺激、カンフル剤

Answer

According to the Cambridge Dictionary:

something that has a sudden and positive effect on something, providing encouragement and new activity

Examples

• Fresh investment would provide the shot in the arm that this industry so badly needs.
• Winning this award has been a big shot in the arm for the students.
• The remaining problems can be dealt with in weeks, and to risk further delay would be to deny the world economy a desperately needed shot in the arm.
•  The pep talk was a real shot in the arm for all the guys.
• The chief's unexpected praise really gave my floundering project a shot in the arm.

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #638

Choosing the right perfume for someone else can be tricky. Instead of buying the same old scent, or taking a shot in the dark, gift multiple aromas that can be tried and tested with a perfume discovery set from the likes of Maison Margiela, Floral Street, Le Labo and Malin+Goetz, among others.

From the 8th paragraph of this article at The List.

上記の文で、take a shot in the darkの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "take a shot in the dark" 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.

---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

当てずっぽうを言ってみる

なお、言葉だけではなく、行動等も含まれる。
同じ意味でtake a stab in the darkというイディオムもあります。

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To make a guess or estimate with very little or no assurance as to its accuracy.

Examples

• I didn't study for the test and took a shot in the dark.
• "I'll take a shot in the dark."
• I don’t know what Bill’s favorite color is, but if I were to take a shot in the dark, I would say it’s yellow.
• I’ve been trying to fix an error on my computer for over an hour now. At this point, I’m just taking shots in the dark and hoping it works.
• I had absolutely no idea what the answer was for the last question on the exam, so I just took a shot in the dark and hoped for the best.

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #637

io9 regulars’ mileage may vary on the definition of “deep cuts” of course—you all watch more than the average viewer—but these are the titles people may or may not have heard of, but should definitely give a shot.

From the headline of this article at Gizmodo.

上記の文で、give a shotの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "give a shot" 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.

---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

～を試みる、～をやってみる

Answer

According to The Idioms:

1. to have a try at something
2. to try something that you are not familiar with
3. make an attempt

Examples

• I have never eaten sushi, but I will give it a shot.
• I have never been very good at baseball, but I will give it a shot.
• If it is so important to you that I get on with your sister I will give it a shot.
• I have never cooked a meal for this many people, but I will give it a shot.
• Writing a speech is very nerve wracking. However, I am going to give it a shot.

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #636

People who badmouth others undermine their own physical, mental health

From the headline of this article at Japan Today.

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

---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

〈主に米俗〉〔人の〕悪口を言う、〔人を〕中傷する、〔人を〕厳しく［口汚く］批評［非難］する

Answer

According to :

To criticize or disparage, often spitefully or unfairly

Examples

• Stop bad-mouthing him all the time.
• Why are you always bad-mouthing the medical profession?
• Both men continually bad-mouthed each other.
• He had sworn not to bad-mouth Liv, though he held her at fault for the breakup of their marriage. Barbara Delinsky SUDDENLY (1993)
• "those cross-Atlantic aficionados who persistently idolize the British theater and bad-mouth Broadway" (Benedict Nightingale).

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #635

Opinion: Andrew Cuomo, a longtime political bully, is receiving his comeuppance

From the headline of this opinion piece at The Washington Post.

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

---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

天罰、当然の罰、当然の報い

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

a deserved rebuke or penalty

Examples

• One of these days, he'll get his comeuppance for treating people so arrogantly.
• The central character is a bad man who shoots people and gets his comeuppance.
• She'll get her comeuppance.
• History tells us that public figures who behave badly or cause real harm to others rarely receive their comeuppance. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Retire the phrase “cancel culture” and focus on what really matters, accountability," 23 Feb. 2021
• And those means include the utilization of narratives, including conspiracy theories, that delegitimize Democrats and offer hope of their eventual comeuppance. — Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, "The Democratic Party Has a Fatal Misunderstanding of the QAnon Phenomenon," 5 Feb. 2021

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。

Question of the Day #634

The Tory leader hit back: “I’m a straight shooter. And that’s why I use words like ‘bankrupt,’ because it cuts to the heart of the matter.”

From the 4th paragraph of this article at The Globe and Mail.

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

---

解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

真っ正直な人間、真面目人間

Answer

According to Lexico:

An honest and forthright person.

Examples

• ‘He is widely praised as honest and a straight shooter.’
• He may be prickly, but he's an absolute straight shooter and he tells it exactly like he thinks it is.’
• Sal's a real straight shooter. If you ask for his opinion, he'll tell you without trying to sugarcoat it.
• Above all, Garland's 25 years on the D.C. Circuit established his reputation as a smart, centrist, nonideological legal thinker — a straight shooter who acted on the basis of principle and the rule of law. — Star Tribune, "Justice Department really needs Merrick Garland," 7 Jan. 2021
• he debate will be moderated by Fox News' Chris Wallace, who has a reputation as a straight shooter. — Michelle L. Price, chicagotribune.com, "What and where to watch as Trump and Biden meet in Ohio for tonight’s first debate," 29 Sep. 2020

このサイトが役に立つと思ったら、ぜひ英語に関心のある知り合いとシェアしてください。