Question of the Day #778

It is worth it to live on a shoestring budget for a few years because the financial and psychological benefits of paying off the loans are immense.

From the 8th paragraph of this article at Above the Law.

上記の文で、shoestring budgetの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "shoestring budget" 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：
英辞郎によると、

《a ～》わずかの［乏しい］予算

「ギリギリの予算」と訳してもいいと思います。

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

A budget or allotment of resources that is very meager, sparse, or just enough to suit its purpose.

Examples

• The British-produced film was made on a shoestring budget.
• We do not want politics run on a shoestring, leading to poor decisions, poor government and the discouragement of good people from coming into politics.
• It is impossible to run a large symphony orchestra on a shoestring, or to run good opera cheaply.
• Unfortunately, due to government cutbacks following the recession, our department has had to produce the same levels of work on a shoestring budget.
• I did all sorts of traveling with just a shoestring budget when I was in college. You learn very quickly how to make the most of what you have!

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Question of the Day #777

Featuring AMG’s quintessential, hand-crafted V8 Biturbo engine the SL 55 sees 469 HP with 615 lb-ft of torque with a 0-60 MPH in a lightning quick, 3.8 seconds.

From the 6th paragraph of this article at Hot Cars.

上記の文で、lightning quickの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "lightning quick" 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：
なぜか、このイディオムは英辞郎等に掲載されていないので下記英語の意味を訳すと、

非常に早い。追いつけないほどに早い。名刺として使う場合は、ハイフォンでつなげます。

ちなみに、Google Translateは、「電光石火」と訳していて悪くないと思います。

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

Incredibly fast; too quick to keep up with. Hyphenated if used before a noun.

Examples

• I love how fast my new computer is! It has a lightning quick response to every keystroke.
• "Mr. Simons no longer runs day-to-day trading at Renaissance Technologies, which manages nearly $16 billion and specializes in lightning-quick computer-based trades, so his pay actually dropped a bit in 2010."
• "Powerful, lightning-quick, Wolf often bypasses the more traditional multi-mallet playing for a driving performance with single-sticks that is intense, and puts a unique stamp on his style of play."
• Did you see that martial arts expert? His kicks were lightning quick!
• My brother has a lightning-quick wit.

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Question of the Day #776

"I have a heavy heart not being able to go and support our athletes and tell them our consideration.

From the 6th paragraph of this article at Inside the Games.

上記の文で、have a heavy heartの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "have a heavy heart" 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：
Weblioによると、

1. 気が重い
2. 気が沈む

使い方が若干違いますが、同じ意味でwith a heavy heartとも言います。

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To have a dejected or miserable attitude or disposition; to be in a depressed or grievous state.

Examples

• I have a heavy heart that the 70 sailors aboard were killed.
• I have a heavy heart since my Grandmother passed away; she was so close to me.
• “He had a heavy heart after moving away from his childhood home, but he knew it was necessary.”
• I've had a terribly heavy heart since my dog passed away.
• I have a heavy heart leaving home, but hopefully, this move is for the best.

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Question of the Day #775

King Of The Hill: Looking At The Bucks’ Upcoming Offseason

From the headline of this article at Brew Hoop.

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

お山の大将、親分、最も偉い人

この訳が間違っているわけではないが、問題文の場合は意訳が必要で「優勝チーム」あたりでしょうか。

Answer

According to The Idioms:

1. be the undisputed champion
2. be the leader in your chosen field
3. person in charge
4. a successful person
5. children’s game

Examples

• It’s going to be hard to beat the reigning kings of the hill. They are invincible.
• The event consisted of a 15-game round-robin then a final king-of-the-hill round. Times, Sunday Times (2014)
• He cajoled, he bullied, he got them all in the locker room, and he was king of the hill. Times, Sunday Times (2012)
• After years of slowly moving up the ranks, Joe finally became king of the hill in his office.
• This team will be hard to beat, reigning as king of the hill for three years straight.

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Question of the Day #774

Petrol subsidy retention: President Buhari kicks the can down the road

From the headline of this article at The Cable.

上記の文で、kick the can down the roadの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "kick the can down the road" 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、

〈主に米話〉〔難題への対応を繰り返し〕先に延ばす、先送りする

下記英語の定義にあるように、このイディオムは特に政治関連でよく使用されます。

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

Especially in politics, to postpone or defer a definitive action, decision, or solution, usually by effecting a short-term one instead.

Examples

• I don't think we should kick the can down the road and let our grandkids solve that problem.
• You can’t solve a debt problem with more debt. That’s just kicking the can down the road.
• You can’t continue to kick the can down the road. Someone will have to tell him that he is fired.
• Kicking the can down the road is not a solution to any problem. We need to fix it permanently.
• It looks as though congress is going to kick the can down the road again on the debt ceiling issue, but they'll have to find a lasting solution eventually.

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Question of the Day #773

Called the Safe Outdoors Dog Act, it lays down basic safeguards for outdoor dogs, as follows:
Defines “adequate shelter” to protect dogs from extreme temperatures, inclement weather, and standing water.

From the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs of this article at Culture Map San Antonio.

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

1. 無情な、厳しい、冷酷な
2. 〔天候が〕荒れ模様の

下記英語の定義にあるように、一番の訳はarchaic（古めかしい）のでほとんど見かけません。さらに、問題文のように一番見かける使い方がinclement weatherで、現在ほとんどの場合、天気・気候の修飾語として使用されます。

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

lacking mildness: such as:

1. physically severe: STORMY
2. archaic: severe in temper or action: UNMERCIFUL

Examples

• The game was postponed due to inclement weather.
• We should come to terms with our generally inclement climate, particularly in my part of the country.
• Collections were made by the ship's doctor on the deck of the ship, where conditions were sufficiently inclement on occasion to partially freeze the water in the washing baths.
• "What brings you off the reservation on such an inclement Saturday evening? Tony Hillerman TALKING GOD (2001)
• Growers in Florida and the U.S. Department of Agriculture warned of a particularly low crop yield this year caused by inclement weather and a disease targeting oranges. — NBC News, 19 Jan. 2022

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Question of the Day #772

The Agony and the Ecstasy of the Ugly Cry

From the headline of this article at The New Republic.

上記の文で、ugly cryの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "ugly cry" 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：
英辞郎等のオンライン辞典に掲載されてなく適訳もないので、下記Lexicoの定義を意訳すると、

激しく泣いているために顔の表情が歪んでしまう状態

になります。
動詞として使用する場合は、ハイフォンを入れるのが正しいですが、ハイフォンのない場合も多く見られます。

Answer

According to Lexico:

A period of crying so intensely that one's facial expression becomes contorted.

語源

this article at Merriam-Websterによると、

ugly cryingという表現は1970年代後半に遡りますが、ugly cryは2000年代前半にOprah Winfreyが頻繁に使用したので有名になった。

Merriam-Websterの記事にもっと詳しい経緯の説明がありますので、ぜひ読んでみましょう。

Etymology

According to this article at Merriam-Webster,

Though the term 'ugly crying' can be traced to the late 1970s, it rocketed to fame with Oprah Winfrey in the early 2000s.

Please see the entire article for a more detailed explanation.

Examples

• ‘the ending of the film will probably elicit an ugly cry’
• No movie can make you ugly cry like My Dog Skip.
• By 2013, Claire Danes had also become associated with the ugly cry because of her emotional portrayal on Homeland of a CIA analyst struggling with bipolar disorder.
• Oprah Winfrey helped popularize the expression, however, when she described how meeting Mary Tyler Moore made her go “into the ‘ugly cry’” in the early 2000s.
• “There is NO shame in feeling deeply. Have that ugly cry, be lost, be confused, but address it - and work towards healing and understanding.”

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