Hot Words No.44

Abound

発音：

[əbáund]

意味：

多数である

To be numerous

例文1：

Gossips about the presidential candidate abound in the media.

例文2：

Innovation abounded at the new technology fair.

Barrel

発音：

[bǽrəl]

意味：

コントロールを失って疾走する

To move fast, losing control

例文1：

When I was driving on the highway, this motorcycle suddenly came from behind and barreled into the side of our car.

例文2：

The race car barreled off the course and went straight into the curve.

Cede

発音：

[síːd]

意味：

何かを手放す

To give up something and surrender it to someone

例文1：

The empire finally agreed to cede the tiny geographical area to the minority residing there.

例文2：

The authoritarian regime wants to dominate global arts without ceding any control of domestic freedom of expression.

Crunch time

発音：

[krʌ́ntʃ táim]

意味：

重要な決断を迫られる瞬間

An important decision-making moment

例文1：

The crunch time came when my name was announced.

例文2：

The debate over climate change is at crunch time.

Deadlock

発音：

[dédlὰk]

意味：

交渉などの行き詰まり

A situation of impossibility to reach agreement

例文1：

Our 4-hour negotiation ended in deadlock.

例文2：

The prime minister is struggling to end the political deadlock.

Firebrand

発音：

[fáiərbrǽnd]

意味：

民衆を行動に駆り立てる為に問題提起する人物

Someone who raises questions so as to alert people into action

例文1：

When young, the philosopher was a firebrand, irritating the people with his endless questions.

例文2：

Due to the recent scandal, the party put the political firebrand on a five-year suspension.

Glum

発音：

[ɡlʌ́m]

意味：

不服で口数少ない、先行き良くない

Unhappy and untalkative

例文1：

What happened? Why do you look so glum?

例文2：

The government’s outlook is glum for economic growth and jobs.

Impede

発音：

[impíːd]

意味：

進展を難しくする

To make progress difficult

例文1：

The typhoon impeded our departure.

例文2：

Tangled relationships impede efforts to change the political system.