Having the quality to keep one interested and entertained（関心を誘い夢中にさせるような）

→“Collecting toys has been my absorbing hobby since childhood.”

→“The psychologist tells his patients to find something absorbing to do in order to attain true happiness.”

To be in trouble（問題・難問に直面した）

→“Our project is beset with unforeseen complications.”

→“The firm is beset by lawsuits from its former employees.”

Intimidating; challenging（恐れおののくような大がかりの、大変な）

→“The new nation faces the daunting task of sustaining a democratic state on a day-to-day basis.”

→“When I volunteered for the project, I was not aware of the daunting nature of the challenge.”

Mysterious, sometimes to the extent of being a little scary（奇妙な、薄気味悪い）

→“I have an eerie sense that I visited this very place a long time ago.”

→“This picture captures the eerie beauty of the ancient town.”

To lose power; to sag; to check with a mark（弱化する；マークをつける）

→“I began my speech so loud that my voice was flagging by the middle of it.”

→“Here’s the handout for today’s lecture. I have flagged the parts that I want you to pay special attention to.”

To annoy; to anger（気に障る、怒らせる）

→“Nothing irks me like waiting endlessly in line on a hot, humid day with no wind blowing.”

→“The company’s new salary policy is irking the employees.”

To be averse; to be reluctant and unwilling（嫌がる、乗り気でない）

→“I am loath to report to my boss how the business meeting went.”

→“Economists are loath to weigh the long-term consequences of the recession.”

To dislike with a strong feeling（忌み嫌う）

→“She loathes going on blind dates.”

→“The radio talk show host loathes the Democrats.”

Effective cure or solution for all problems（普遍的有効性のある解決策・対処）

→“Decades ago many people believed that a communist revolution was a panacea for all social evils.”

→“I am realistic enough to know that there is no panacea for the world’s troubles.”

To give up; to cancel（あきらめる、キャンセルする）

→“We decided to punt on it and go for something else.”

→“He has not replied to my e-mail. I think he is punting on the plan.”

A quarrel, fight, dispute（口論、喧嘩）

→“In a diplomatic spat, the US and Venezuela expelled each other’s ambassador.”

→“I stalked out of the house after a spat with my parents.”

To be at risk; to be in question（失う危険がある、問題となる、かかっている）

→“My career is at stake in today’s presentation.”

→“Great losses and gains are at stake in this game.”

A substitute; a replacement（代替）

→“When I had a homestay experience in America, the Mr. and Mrs. became my surrogate parents in all respects.”

→“He is under a lot of attack because he is considered a surrogate of the dethroned king.”

A certain acreage of space, particularly, a long thin area; a group of（一定の区域、特に長く細いエリア。群衆）

→“Swaths of Times Square are closed to traffic during the holidays.”

→“A vast coastal swath was wiped out by the tsunami.”

→“A swath of people showed up for the concert.”

To cover or wrap（覆う、カバーする）

→“She slept swathed in blankets.”

→“The lake was swathed in early morning mist.”