Hot Words No.56

Bluff

発音：

[blʌ́f]

意味：

実行を伴わない威嚇

An empty threat

例文1：

Top government officials concluded that much of the threat from the enemy state is a bluff.

例文2：

Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you. This is not a bluff.

Clout

発音：

[kláut]

意味：

影響力

The power to influence others

例文1：

The nation’s political clout is backed by its enormous economic power.

例文2：

Her communication skills carry tremendous clout in business negotiations.

Dismal

発音：

[dízməl]

意味：

芳しくない、絶望的

Undesirable; hopelessly bad

例文1：

He finished the project with dismal results.

例文2：

To put it bluntly, the future of our relationship looks dismal.

Forbear (past: forbore; past participle: forborne)

発音：

[fɔːrbέər]

意味：

自制する、止まる

To refrain from doing something

例文1：

I could have stood up in protest, but forbore from doing so.

例文2：

I can’t forbear to mention that it was a mistake on my part.

Gear up for

発音：

[ɡíər ʌ́p fɔ́ːr]

意味：

準備する

To get ready for

例文1：

The school administration is gearing up for the upcoming new semester.

例文2：

London hotels are gearing up for the Olympics.

Hard-pressed / Hard-pushed / Hard-put

発音：

[hάːrd-prést/púʃt/pút]

意味：

〜するのに大変てこずる

To have great difficulty doing something

例文1：

You would be hard-pressed to find a better journalist.

例文2：

You will be hard-put to find a restaurant that serves better food.

Impassive

発音：

[impǽsiv]

意味：

無表情の

Expressionless

例文1：

When I saw his impassive face, I thought he was not paying attention.

例文2：

She looked as impassive as a bronze statue.

Jab

発音：

[dƷǽb]

意味：

攻撃する

To attack

例文1：

She always jabs at my plans in the monthly sales meeting.

例文2：

The prime minister used speeches on the economy to jab at his rival’s views.