Hot Words No.49

Abuzz

発音：

[əbʌ́z]

意味：

うわさや興奮が広まっていく状態

For rumor or excitement to be spreading among people

例文1：

The school was abuzz with concern when the news was broken that the principal had been hospitalized.

例文2：

The whole nation is abuzz over the news.

Brisk

発音：

[brísk]

意味：

活発で健全な、エネルギッシュで迅速な

Active and healthy; quick and energetic

例文1：

Uniqlo’s new flagship store had brisk sales.

例文2：

The new teacher took her position behind the lectern and addressed the class in a brisk tone.

Cope

発音：

[kóup]

意味：

難局に対処する

To deal with a difficult situation

例文1：

You work full time and also go to graduate school. I don’t know how you cope.

例文2：

The townspeople are coping with the crisis with courage and resilience.

Dry

発音：

[drái]

意味：

つまらない、そっけない

Serious and uninteresting; unexcited and unenthusiastic

例文1：

The professor assigned us an extremely dry article on the history of criminal law.

例文2：

Anyone can see that, she said dryly.

Edge

発音：

[édƷ]

意味：

比較有利

An advantage

例文1：

That bookstore decided to go digital so as to get an edge over its competitors.

例文2：

The emerging markets have a trade edge that propels their rapid economic growth.

Fine-tune

発音：

[fáin-tjúːn]

意味：

細かな調整を施して良く機能するようにする

To make tiny adjustments to something so it functions well

例文1：

We stayed up till 3 am, fine-tuning our plan.

例文2：

The nation is trying to fine-tune its economic policy so the environmental impact would be minimal.

Home in on

発音：

[hóum ín άn]

意味：

弱点や問題点に焦点を当てる

To focus on a weak or problematic part

例文1：

I have constructed the main argument. Now I must home in on the likely objections.

例文2：

Scientists are now homing in on the missing link in the theory of evolution.

Irate

発音：

[airéit]

意味：

怒った

Upset, angry

例文1：

By the time I returned her call 3 days later, my mom was irate.

例文2：

The mayor is irate as the central government has failed to reveal a planned budget cut.