Question of the Day #855

In addition, the company has increased its dividend payout four times over the last five years, with a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of a rock-solid 7.2%.

From the 8th paragraph of this article at NASDAQ.com.

  上記の文で、rock-solidの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "rock-solid" 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. 〔物が〕石のように硬い
2. 〔意志・決心などが〕極めて堅固な、盤石の、手堅い
3. 〔人間関係などが〕堅実な、信頼できる、頼りになる
4. 〔証拠などが〕絶対確実な、動かぬ

しばしば、ハイフォンなしのrock solidと表記されます。
 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

completely or perfectly solid (as because of great strength or dependability)

 

Examples

• I've fixed the table - it's rock-solid now.
• She has a rock-solid reputation.
• He is right to imply that the political structure is a little shaky—it was a myth that it was ever rock solid. — Xan Smiley
• The director-general assured the governors that the evidence was "rock-solid".
• The ice on the river was rock solid.

   

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Question of the Day #854

Laid-back vibes, eclectic menu & attentive service define Susan’s in Sawyer

From the headline of this article at the Harbor Country News.

  上記の文で、vibeの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "vibe" 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：
Vibeは、vibrationの省略で、英辞郎によるとvibrationの訳は、

〈米俗〉〔人・場所・状況などを見て生じる〕感情［気持ち］、〔雰囲気などから起きる〕感情◆通例、vibrationsまたはvibes

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

a distinctive feeling or quality capable of being sensed

   

Examples

• This place has a good/bad vibe.
• I didn't like the place—it had bad vibes.
• I was getting some weird vibes from him—I don't think he liked me.
• Good luck, we're all sending you positive vibes.
• The rest of the album maintains this relaxing vibe. Times, Sunday Times (2013)

   

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Question of the Day #853

Some Twitter users, the majority of whom seem to be trans, are rallying behind #DropKiwifarms, using it as an opportunity to share their personal experiences with the forum that allegedly uses doxxing, swatting, and other intimidation tactics to bully their arbitrary targets, sometimes leading their victims to kill themselves.

From the 2nd paragraph of this article at Kotaku.

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

スワッティング◆悪質ないたずら（または嫌がらせ）。「凶悪犯人が立てこもっている」などと虚偽の通報をして、第三者（いたずらのターゲット）の家に特殊部隊(SWAT)が派遣されるように仕向けること。

   

Answer

According to the Cambridge Dictionary:

the action of making a false report of a serious emergency so that a SWAT team (= a group of officers trained to deal with dangerous situations) will go to a person's home, by someone who wants to frighten, upset, or cause problems for that person

   

Examples

• Swatting involves placing a hoax emergency call to draw a strong police response to an address.
• The man who allegedly placed the "swatting" call has been arrested.
• It was only a matter of time before swatting would cost someone their life.
• Swatting incidents typically occur when an attacker has gained access to their victim’s personal information, such as their home or work address, which they are likely to obtain through one of these processes
• His plan was to swat other gamers during their streaming broadcasts so everyone would see it happen.

   

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Question of the Day #852

The Philly rapper born Tariq Trotter had of course already displayed his otherworldly dexterity as frontman and co-founder of The Roots, and, beginning in 2018, emerged as a willing and capable soloist with a series of freewheeling mini-releases.

From the 1st paragraph of this article at NPR.org.

  上記の文で、freewheelingの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "freewheeling" 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. 〔車輪などが〕惰性で走行する、フリーホイールの
2. 〔人が〕自由に行動する、自由気まま［奔放］な
3. 〔言動が〕慎みがない、無責任な

問題文の場合は、楽曲や歌詞に関するものなので三番目が適訳ですが、ニュアンスとしては二番の訳も間違っていないと思います。  

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

free and loose in form or manner: such as

1. heedless of social norms or niceties
2. not repressed or restrained
3. not bound by formal rules, procedures, or guidelines
4. loose and undisciplined : not defensive

   

Examples

• There is an independence and freewheeling spirit in Alaska.
• He has given up his freewheeling lifestyle to settle down with his baby daughter.
• Loose, freewheeling charges were traded during the argument
• Incongruity isn’t seen as a blemish, and the lyrics tend to be more freewheeling and braggadocious. -Sheldon Pearc, The New Yorker, 30 June 2021
• Made for Love, which is certainly not quite like any other book on earth, is more freewheeling, dense with references—an experiment whose outcome is as vivid and as startling as a chip stuck in the brain.- Philippa Snow, The New Republic, 8 Apr. 2021

   

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Question of the Day #851

Buildkite Adds Analytics Tools to Identify Flaky App Tests

From the headline of this article at DevOps.com.

  上記の文で、flakyの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "flaky" 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. 薄片状の、フレーク状の
2. 〔菓子の生地などが〕パイ状の、パサパサの
3. 〈米俗〉〔人が普通ではなくて〕変わっている、頭のおかしい、気の狂った
4. 〈米俗〉〔人が〕頼りにならない、信頼できない

問題文の訳は、4番目が正解です。

 

Answer

According to :

1. consisting of flakes
2. tending to flake
3. markedly odd or unconventional: OFFBEAT, WACKY
4. informal: not reliable in performance or behavior : UNDEPENDABLE

   

Examples

• The central character of the play is a flaky neurotic.
• The truth is actors are often flaky, unreliable and unstable people.
• He wondered if the idea wasn't just a little too flaky, a little too outlandish.
• … digital crutches trump face-to-face talking (even phone calls), encouraging people to be flaky and evasive … - Charlotte Liberman
• You'll want to make sure that all the technology tools you need to effectively and efficiently serve clients are in full working order and that you won't need to worry about wasting time and money fixing broken hardware or flaky software. - Henry B. Chace

   

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Question of the Day #850

'Disgruntled' Prince Harry will 'pull no punches' in upcoming memoir

From the headline of this article at The News.

  上記の文で、pull no punchesの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "pull no punches" 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、

手加減しない

Pull punches/pull a punchを直訳すると、「パンチの力を抜く」なので、pull no punchesが上記の訳になるわけです。
また、下記例文2と3のようにnot pull any/your punchesの変形もあります。

 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To act without restraint or limitations; to not soften one's words or actions.

   

Examples

• My father is very direct and pulls no punches.
• Her image is that of an investigative reporter who doesn't pull any punches.
• She doesn't pull her punches when talking about lazy people.
• The doctor pulled no punches but told us the whole truth.
• Everyone around here is so afraid to be honest with me because I'm the boss, but I need you to pull no punches — what exactly do you think is wrong with the company?

   

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Question of the Day #849

Kirkland Signature. Two-Buck Chuck. Simple Truth. Cat & Jack. Great Value. Amazon Basics. Store brands have never been more popular.

From the 1st paragraph of this article at CNN.com.

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

自社ブランド、ストアブランド商品◆例えば、Safewayというスーパーなら、"Safeway's bath tissue"（トイレット・ペーパー）などがストアブランド商品に当たる。

とありますが、いわゆる「プライベートブランド」です。
ところが、英語では会社や店舗によって呼び方がいろいろあります。例えば、store brandの他にprivate label, white label, generic brand  

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

a product that is made for a store and has the store's name on it

 

Examples

• Unlike national brands, store brands can lower their prices and still be profitable.
• He told them a strong store brand would free them from the tyranny of manufacturers.
• Due to the fact that all of these are store brands, the stores are often competitive to get buyers to their store brand.
• What’s more, retailers like Target and Walmart are ramping up their store brands. - HOW CLOROX’S NEW CEO PLANS TO TURN DISINFECTANT WIPES INTO FUTURE WINS|PHIL WAHBA|OCTOBER 21, 2020|FORTUNE
• The company has faced pressure from cheaper store brands and also felt the pinch as retailers cut back on goods that they keep in stock. Times, Sunday Times (2009)

   

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