Question of the Day #1448

A Penny for Your Thoughts 9-3-2026

From the headline of this article at the Falls Church News-Press.

  上記の文で、a penny for your thoughtsの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "a penny for your thoughts" 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、

一体何を考えているのですか？◆【場面】物思いに沈んでいる人などに尋ねる。◆文字どおりには「考えていることを教えてくれたら1ペニー払ってもいい」。16世紀にはすでにあった慣用句で、当時の1ペニーはかなりの金額だった。◆【類】What's on your mind?

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

used to ask what someone is thinking about

 

Examples

1. "A penny for your thoughts?" "Oh, I'm just thinking about what I want to do over the weekend."
2. You haven't said very much – a penny for your thoughts.
3. You've been awfully quiet—a penny for your thoughts.
4. A: You've been awfully quiet. What's on your mind?
   B: Oh, it's nothing serious, just some work-related stuff.
   A: Come on, a penny for your thoughts. I'm here to listen if you want to talk about it.
5. “Hey Cathie, so this is our new teacher, do you know about him, penny for your thoughts.” Source: theidioms.com

   

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 #1447

Hydronym hullabaloo

From the headline of this article at iPolitics.

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

【名】
大騒ぎ、騒動◆可算

一般的には上記の訳で間違いはありませんが、下記英語の定義1にあるように「大きくて途切れることのない騒音、または様々な音が入り混じったもの」の意味もあります。

 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

1. informal : a loud, continued noise or mixture of noises : DIN
2. informal : a state of commotion, excitement, or violent disturbance : UPROAR, FUSS

 

Examples

1. Would there be such a hullabaloo about the violence in her books if they had been written by a man? —Laura Z. Hobson
2. There's been a lot of hullabaloo recently about the effects that grapefruit can have on certain meds. —Chanie Kirschner
3. Many locals who are used to coexisting with the sharks think it’s all a big hullabaloo, too. From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026
4. For all the hullabaloo, the markets aren’t reacting much differently. From MarketWatch ● Apr. 7, 2026
5. As Baron points out, the scientific method often fell by the wayside amid the hullabaloo. From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2025

   

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 #1446

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon said he will take under advisement multiple motions to dismiss the tribe’s amended complaint, in which it seeks adjudication of its fishing rights.

From the 2nd paragraph of this article at Missoula Current.

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

検討してみます。◆意見・提案などについて。往々にして、体のいい拒絶。

例文で分かるように、かしこまった言い方です。


 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

to consider (something) carefully

 

Examples

1. Thank you for your suggestion. We'll take the matter under advisement.
2. The committee agreed to automatically pass for consideration all category applicants above the mean score, and take under advisement on an individual basis any below the mean. — Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2022 
3. And that's another consideration Putin has to take under advisement. — CBS News, 18 May 2022 
4. Thank you for your input Mr Walters - I'll take what you've said under advisement.
5. The report was ignored by most of the media and taken under advisement by the Bush administration.

   

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 #1445

There are plenty of options to whet one's appetite, from plant-based collaborations with Impossible Foods to hearty classics like the Bacon, Sausage, & Egg Wrap.

From the 2nd paragraph of this article at Tasting Table.

  上記の文で、whet one's appetiteの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "Whet one's appetite" 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、

（人）の興味をそそる

比喩としては、この意味ですが問題の文の場合、元に意味の「食欲」の意味で使っています。


 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To induce or increase one's interest in something.

 

Examples

1. The first chapter of that novel really whetted my appetite—I'm eager to read more of it tonight.
2. Seeing that film really whetted my sister's appetite for horror films.
3. My appetite for theater was whetted when I was very young.
4. Delicious smells from the kitchen whetted our appetites.
5. That first Schubert piece whetted my appetite; I hope she sings some others.

   

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 #1444

It’s been a minute — or, let’s be honest, a long 1,536 days.

From the 1st paragraph of this article at The Conservateur.

  上記の文で、it's been a minuteの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "it's been a minute" 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：
英辞郎等の日本語のサイトには適切な訳がないので、下記WikiHowの説明を訳すと、

"It's been a minute"というのは、誰かにしばらく会っていない、または長い間何かをしていないという意味です。

つまり、「久しぶり」ということになります。
同じminuteでもNew York minuteと反対の意味になります。
"It's been a hot minute."も同じ意味です。


 

Answer

According to WikiHow:

“It’s been a minute” means you haven't seen someone or done something in a long time.

 

Examples

1. Them: “Want to hit Laguna next Saturday?”
   You: “Sure! It’s been a minute since I went to the beach…What are you bringing?”
2. “Julie? Wow! It’s been a minute since I’ve seen you. You look great!!”
3. “OMG, it’s been a minute since I last talked to you. How’s life been lately?”
4. “Yo, Dan! It’s been a minute since I last saw you! Are you still working at Dell?”
5. It’s been a minute since I posted but in that minute so much has changed.

   

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 #1443

This is your brain on spring fever

From the headline of this article at NBC News.

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

スプリング・フィーバー◆春先になって（性的）エネルギーが高まってホルモンのバランスが崩れ、それが身体および精神にさまざまな症状となって現れるもの。症状が強く表れるものは季節性情動障害(SAD)に分類される。一方で、エネルギーが低下して鬱状態になる場合もスプリング・フィーバーと呼ばれる。

とかなり難しく書いてありますが、一般的には下記の英語の定義の意味になります。すなわち、「暖かい春の訪れとともに生じる、落ち着きのない興奮や高揚感。」

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

A feeling of often restless excitement or exuberance coinciding with the onset of warmer spring weather.

 

Examples

1. It's hard enough keeping control of a class full of young children throughout the year, but it's particularly difficult once spring fever starts to spread.
2. It's wonderful seeing the city touched by spring fever, coming alive again after the deadening winter.
3. For almost everyone, spring fever triggers the inspiration to improve the landscape. — Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 Jan. 2026
4. On a warm Sunday afternoon in February, the Huntington Library was packed with Lunar New Year festivities and early spring fever. From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2026
5. "The fish are mainly being caught in Vancouver area, and effort is starting to build so people are getting spring fever," Hymer said. From Seattle Times ● Feb. 28, 2013

   

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 #1442

Taste and chemical tests reveal off-putting compounds in beer

From the headline of this article at Chemical & Engineering News.

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

【形】
〈英話〉不快感［嫌な感じ］を起こさせる、不快な、当惑させる、困惑させる、反感を覚えさせる

   

Answer

According to the Cambridge Dictionary:

slightly unpleasant or worrying so that you do not want to get involved in any way

 

Examples

1. He's slightly aggressive, which a lot of people find off-putting when they first meet him.
2. At that time, downloading was slow, and off-putting to students.
3. After bedbugs, roaches, and rat infestations, murky tap water is among the most off-putting experiences in New York City apartment living. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 5 Aug. 2026
4. Toughness in a man can be seen as abrasive or off-putting in a women. — Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
5. Elon Musk had perhaps the most bizarre and off-putting response. — Constance Grady, Vox, 12 Sep. 2024

   

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。