Hot Words No.23

Allay

発音：

[əléi]

意味：

心配や懸念を払拭する

To reassure someone and weaken their concern/worry

例文1：

The company held an all-hands emergency meeting to allay the employees’ concern about job security.

例文2：

The World Health Organization is working hard to allaythe spreading fears of a newly discovered contagious disease.

Berate

発音：

[biréit]

意味：

責め詰る、激しく非難する

To blame or criticize harshly

例文1：

You are a loser,’ he berated himself.

例文2：

The international community berated the authoritarian government for brutally massacring the protesters.

Clamber

発音：

[klǽmbər]

意味：

四つん這いになって動く、よじ登る

To move or climb slowly, using one’s hands

例文1：

The power went out and the office was suddenly pitch-dark. We had to clamber our way out.

例文2：

While hiking in the woods, I slipped on a slant and had to clamber back over wet rocks.

Disenchanted with

発音：

[dìsentʃǽntid wíð]

意味：

失望した、がっかりした

Disappointed; disillusioned

例文1：

I am totally disenchanted with the new teacher.

例文2：

The citizens are growing disenchanted and impatient with the flawed pension system.

Erratic

発音：

[irǽtik]

意味：

不規則の、正道から外れた

To be irregular and unpredictable; to be deviant

例文1：

Our next-door neighbors are exasperated with their son’s erratic behavior.

例文2：

Being a teacher involves occasionally disciplining erratic students.

Hunker down

発音：

[hʌ́ŋkər dáun]

意味：

長期の試練に備えて身構える

To brace oneself up for a lengthy ordeal or challenge

例文1：

Under the ongoing recession, our company strategy is to hunker down and stick it out till things start looking up.

例文2：

The government is ready to hunker down in the fiscal battle to slash deficit.

Keen

発音：

[kíːn]

意味：

鋭い、強い関心がある

Sharp; eager; favorably disposed

例文1：

She has a keen eye for artistic inspiration in daily life.

例文2：

I have great hopes for John. He is an extremely keen student.

例文3：

To tell you the truth, I am not very keen on your plan.

Mantra

発音：

[mǽntrə]

意味：

モットー、座右の銘

A motto; a principle to live by

例文1：

I take it as my mantra that I should always be ready to forgive and let go.

例文2：

The chairman stuck to his mantra that every business opportunity should be explored.