Keep your eye on the ball

Posted by: ShuzoNakamura Thu, 08 Mar 2007 23:08:17 GMT


最近のように変化のスピードが早く、また、いろいろな価値観が錯綜する時代に生きていますと、成功するためには回りで起こるさまざまな出来事をしっかり見定めていく必要があります。そうでないと機会を取り逃がすことになりますし、挫折を味わうことになります。今回は、そんな状況にまつわる表現をみてみましょう。

「Keep your eye on the ball」です。
これは、「ボールをよく見ろ、目を離すな・・・自分の目的実現にかかわる重要な出来事から目をそらすな」ということです。

この表現は、スポーツの世界からきていますが、仕事にかかわること、私的なこと、いろいろな場面で使われます。下の例で、トムの会社では、CD開発のために多くの投資を続けてきましたが、世の中では、音楽を聞くのにCDではなく、mp3を使うようになっていました。トムは、「訳がわからない」とぼやいています。ビルは、世の中の動向や技術の方向に注目していないと取り残されてしまうよと助言します。



A: I don't get it. We were spending all of our money and resources into developing our CDs and, all of a sudden, everybody's listening to mp3s! What happened?
B: Well, you know, technology changes so fast nowadays that you really have to keep your eye on the ball or you'll be left behind.
A: Yeah, we'll really have to keep our eye on the current trends in technology and society as well.



と ころで、「Keep your eye on the ball.」の反対表現として、「take your eye off the ball.」があります。そして、この表現は、「Don't take your eye off the ball.」といった形で使われます。「Keep your eye on the ball.」は、手元にボールがある時、また、激励の意味合い、「Don't take your eye off the ball.」は、相手にボールがある時、また、注意を喚起する意味合いが含まれます。


3/4/2007

（イーストウエストジャーナル連載）



To "keep your eye on the ball" means that you are paying close attention to important events going on around you, especially those that are important for you to achieve your goals. This phrase comes from the world of sports. If you are playing in a ball game, it is important that you know where the ball is at all times. If you lose track of the ball, the other team might score on you or take the advantage in the game. Or, if someone is passing you the ball, you might not see it and drop the ball. In baseball, if you are a batter and you keep your eye on the ball, you could hit a homerun. In golf, you have to concentrate on the ball when you are getting ready to hit it. You always have to be alert and aware of where the ball is. If you take your eye off the ball for just a second, you could lose track of where it is and that could mean trouble. This is also true in life, whether it is at work, in your personal life, or just what you happen to be working on at the moment. You have to be aware of the things going on around you that are important for you to achieve your goals. If you are not aware of these things, you might not be prepared for opportunities that come your way, or you could lose sight of your goals and not do what is important to achieve them. It could also mean that you are keeping your eye on your goal, as well. In business, this could mean keeping your eye on the stock market, current trends in technology or society, the situation at your own company or what the competition is doing, or just the status of the project you are currently working on. In your personal life, this could be keeping track of things that could affect your future, what's going on in your marriage, keeping track on what's going on in the lives of your children, etc. In any case, it usually refers to keeping track of things that are important in achieving a goal so that you don't miss an opportunity or suffer any setbacks.
A: I don't get it. We were spending all of our money and resources into developing our CDs and, all of a sudden, everybody's listening to mp3s! What happened? B: Well, you know, technology changes so fast nowadays that you really have to keep your eye on the ball or you'll be left behind. A: Yeah, we'll really have to keep our eye on the current trends in technology and society as well.
You would use this expression to make sure someone is paying attention to important details related to his goal as in, "Keep your eye on the ball." You could also use it to scold someone for not paying attention to these details as in, "You have to keep your eye on the ball." Again, these are not just any details, but specifically things that are important for achieving the goal.
The opposite expression would be to "take your eye off the ball." This is usually used in the form of, "Don't take you eye off the ball." Also, to "be on the ball" could mean that you have the ball and are running with it or that you have your eye on the ball. In other words, it means that you are actively doing something to achieve your goals or that you are aware of the important events going on around you that could affect achieving your goal.

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Keep your pants on

Posted by: ShuzoNakamura Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:47:35 GMT

Keep your pants on
If someone is overly excited or impatient about something, you might tell him to keep his pants on. This expression means to calm down and be patient. It is often used when someone is calling you and telling you to hurry up because he can´t wait and is overly excited about it. You might reply something like, ¨Keep you pants on. I´m coming!¨ You could use this in more casual circumstances with you friends or co-workers, but probably not in polite conversation with your boss or superiors.
A: When is the new product going to be ready? Engineering was supposed to be finished with it a month ago. Our customers are getting impatient and are threatening to back out if it´s not ready soon! B: Keep your pants on. I´m sure they´ll get it to us as soon as it´s ready. It wouldn´t be good to ship a defective product, would it? A: I guess you´re right. I wish they would hurry it up, though. The customers won´t wait forever.
This expression comes from the idea that an overly-amorous suitor might get too excited and take his pants off before the time is right. He would need to be told to keep his pants on and be patient.

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Forgetful Idioms

Posted by: ShuzoNakamura Fri, 12 Jan 2007 05:27:44 GMT

On the tip of my tongue This expression is used when there is a piece of information that you should know and normally do know but when somebody asks you about it or you are trying to think of it, you just can't remember what it was. This is usually a frustrating time because you normally know it, but you just can't think of it the moment you try to think of it and need to know it. In this case you would say, ¨It's on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't think of it. It's like the word or name, or whatever it is, is just on the tip of your tongue waiting to get out, but just can't get beyond that point. What you are trying to think of is being elusive, staying just beyond your memory. You are so close to remembering what it was but just can't think of it. Because you are so close, it is frustrating that you still can't think of it. The main point is the FACT that you are so close to remembering but just can't do it so it is frustrating. Drawing a blank This expression can be used in the same situations, but has a more basic meaning that you are trying to think of something, but can't think of what it was. This expression refers to drawing a blank lottery ticket with nothing on it so you can't win the prize. This expression can be used in the same situations as, "on the tip of my tongue," but doesn't have the same sense of urgency or frustration; it is just a statement of fact. The main point is that you are stressing the ACTION of trying to remember but can't. Senior moment To have a senior moment also means that you can't remember something. This expression playfully refers to the fact that when people get older and become senior citizens, they tend to start forgetting things. It is said jokingly about oneself or someone else when the person is having the senior moment is too young for these kind of memory lapses to be happening. You would use this expression only in casual conversation with someone you are comfortable joking with. You should also be careful not to say it in front of a senior citizen, unless that person can take a joke. The main point of this expression is that you are referring to the MOMENT IN TIME when this forgetfulness took place. Jean: Hey, who is that? He looks familiar. William: Oh yeah, that´s… Oh, what was his name. Jean: I´m trying to remember, too, but I keep drawing a blank. William: Arrgh (sound of frustration), it´s right on the tip of my tongue. I just can´t think of it. Jean: C'mon, we're way to young to be having a senior moment.(笑) As shown in the above dialog, these expressions can all be used to refer to the same event of forgetting something. The main difference is the focus of whether you are trying to express the frustration of not being able to remember, are stressing that you are trying to think of it, or are joking about this incident of not being able to remember.

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to be in one's element

Posted by: ShuzoNakamura Tue, 09 Jan 2007 21:36:10 GMT


人は自分に適した環境や活動領域の中でこそ、思い存分、力を発揮することができます。今回は、そんなことにまつわる表現をみてみましょう。

"to be in one's element" です。
これは、「自分に適した活動領域にいる、本領を発揮できる」ということです。

"element" という言葉は、古代ギリシャの哲学者達が考え出した自然界を構成する基本要素に関係します。そして、生物には生きるに適した固有の環境・活動領域があり、魚にとっては水の中、鳥にとっては大空ということになりますね。下の例で、ジムもトムも、アレックスの交渉の仕方に舌を巻いています。アレックスは、難しいお客さんと交渉する時にこそ本領を発揮できる、水を得た魚のように生き生きするというわけです。


Jim: Wow, did you see Alex negotiate that last deal with the Hercules Corp?
Tom: Yeah, he sales pitch was terrific. He countered all of their objections and made them realize that they need our product.
Jim: Well, you know he's a good salesman and he loves a challenge. He's really in his element when he's negotiating the tough clients.



ちなみに、"to be in one's element"の反対は、"to be out of one's element" となります。
これに似たの表現としては、" a fish out of water."、「陸（おか）に上がった魚」があります。



1/9/2007

（イーストウエストジャーナル連載）

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Jump on the bandwagon

Posted by: ShuzoNakamura Mon, 01 Jan 2007 09:33:02 GMT


皆がするから私もする。こんな姿勢は自主性がなさそうであまり良い印象を持てません。しかし、動きの早い最近のご時世では、こんな態度もあながち責めることはできません。今回は、そんな状況にまつわる表現をみてみましょう。

"Jump on the bandwagon" です。
これは、「時流に乗る、便乗する」ということです。

この表現は、昔、政治家の選挙キャンペーンのため、楽隊が荷馬車に乗って演奏しながらパレードしたところからきています。楽隊車に飛び乗るということは、その候補者を支持するということになります。これは、勝つ方につく、勝ち馬に乗るということではなく、ただ、皆のすること、考えることに同調するということです。

下の例で、ジムとトムは、多くの会社が採用した新しいビジネスモデルを自分達の会社も採用するのかどうか噂しています。二人は新しいモデルを評価していません。そして、二人の上司は、賢明だから時流に飛び乗るようなことはしないだろうという結論に落ち着きました。



Tom : Did you hear? ACME Corp. is adopting the ¨Right Now!¨ business model, too.
Jim : I don´t know about that. If you really think about it, it just doen´t make sense.
Tom : I know. I hope we don´t have to start using it.
Jim : Don´t worry, the boss is too smart for that. He´s not the type to jump on the bandwagon just because everyone else is doing it.



「皆のやるようにやらなきゃよかった」なんてことにならないようにしたいものですね。
" I wish I hadn't jumped on the bandwagon."


1/1/2007

（イーストウエストジャーナル連載）




jump on the bandwagon

To jump on the bandwagon means to go along and support whatever is popular at the time. It means to do what everyone else is doing. It is often used to imply that by doing this you are providing support for a certain issue or program. It is often used for political issues (¨His last speech was so powerful that a lot of people are jumping on the bandwagon.¨) or a particular program or way of doing things (¨Everyone´s jumping on the bandwagon for that new business model even though, if you think about it, it doesn´t make any sense.¨), but it can also just mean going along with the current fad (¨The new Nintendo Wii is so popular, my son just had to jump on the bandwagon and get one, too.¨). This expression is used when whatever it is is already popular and has a large following and you are following along. It also implies there is a lot of excitement about whatever the popular thing is.
A: Did you hear? ACME Corp. is adopting the ¨Right Now!¨ business model, too. B: I don´t know about that. If you really think about it, it just doen´t make sense. A: I know. I hope we don´t have to start using it. B: Don´t worry, the boss is too smart for that. He´s not the type to jump on the bandwagon just because everyone else is doing it.

This expression comes from old-fashioned political campaigns in which candidates would try to gain support by having a small parade. If a candidate was popular enough, this might include a small band. To jump on the bandwagon was to say you were showing your support for that candidate.

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Spell it out

Posted by: ShuzoNakamura Fri, 08 Dec 2006 03:34:17 GMT


職人肌の人にものを尋ねると、説明が舌足らずであったり、あるいは、専門用語が多すぎて、もう少し素人にも理解できるように、分かり易く話して欲しいと思うことが、しばしばあります。今回は、そんな状況にまつわる表現をみてみましょう。

"Spell it out" です。
これは、「略すことなく、一つ一つ順を追って明確に説明する」ということです。

下の例で、コンピューターに問題が発生したので、トムはお客様の為のサポートセンターに電話しました。しかし、担当者は専門用語を当り前のように使い、何を言っているのかよく分かりません。トムは、自分は技術者じゃないのだからもう少し分かりやすく話してくれと苦情を言います。



Tom: Hello. Tech support? I'm having trouble with my computer.
Tech: What seems to be the problem?
Tom: My computer freezes every time I start it up. Tech: Have you tried booting in safe mode?
Tom: Have I what? I'm sorry, I'm not a techie. You'll have to really spell it out for me.




今回の表現を相手を見下すような調子で言うと、

「君はどうも飲み込みが悪そうだから、特別に噛み砕いてやさしく説明してやろう」、
"I'll spell it out for you." 、

あるいは、
「そこまで、いちいち言わなきゃ分からないの？」、
"Do I have to spell it out (for you)?"

などと傲慢な感じになりますので注意が必要です。




12/7/2006

（イーストウエストジャーナル連載）

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Wasn’t born yesterday

Posted by: ShuzoNakamura Mon, 02 Oct 2006 04:07:09 GMT


見えすいた事柄、トリックを並べ立て騙そうとしてきた時、「昨日、生まれたばかりのひよっこじゃあるまいし、そんなことに引っかからないよ」などと言いたくなる時があります。今回は、そんな状況にまつわる表現をみてみましょう。

“wasn’t born yesterday” です。
これは、「知識や経験が豊かで、いろいろな事態に対応できる」ということです。

例えば、既に、知っていることをくどく長々と説明された時、或いは、老婆心から必要以上に心配された時などにも、「馬鹿にしないでよ」といった気持ちで使います。 下の例で、明日、ビルは大切な打ち合わせを持ちますが、ポールは、ビルの交渉相手が恫喝的でかなりしたたかなので心配しています。しかし、ビルは、十分な経験を持っているからきれいに応対できると自信を示します。


Paul: So, you’ve got that big meeting coming up tommorow with Harry Brooks. Aren’t you worried?
Bill: Why, should I be?
Paul: Well, he is well known for intimidating people and taking advantage of them.
Bill: Don’t worry. I wasn’t born yesterday, you know. I can handle him.
Paul: I know. Just be careful, okay?



“He is so naive that he must have been born yesterday.”
なんて言われないようにしたいですね。


10/1/2006

イーストウエストジャーナル連載）




To say someone wasn't born yesterday means that they are experienced and knowledgeable in the ways of the world. It means the person has a lot of experience and can deal with various situations. If someone is worried about whether or not you can do a job, you can reassure them by saying, "Don't worry, I wasn't born yesterday." It also can mean the person has a lot of knowledge and doesn't need to be told everything. If someone is explaining something to you too simply or in too much detail you can say, "You don't need to tell me that. I wasn't born yesterday." However, the most common use of this phrase is when someone is trying to deceive or trick you, but you know what he is trying to do, especially when it is a very simple or well-known trick. In this case you could say, "You can't fool me. I wasn't born yesterday!" A parent might also say this to a child when a child tries to lie or make an excuse about something. You can use this expression to refer to yourself, basically meaning, "I'm not stupid." Or you can use it to refer to someone else to indicate that the person is experienced and knows what he is doing.

Paul: So, you've got that big meeting coming up tommorow with Harry Brooks. Aren't you worried? Bill: Why, should I be? Paul: Well, he is well known for intimidating people and taking advantage of them. Bill: Don't worry. I wasn't born yesterday, you know. I can handle him. Paul: I know. Just be careful, okay?

Someone who was born yesterday would not have very much experience. He would be very naive and believe everything he hears. He would also not know very much and not know how to do very much. If someone tries to trick you, especially with a very simple or well-known trick, it might seem as if he thinks you are so naive that you must have been born yesterday.

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Work (one's) fingers to the bone

Posted by: ShuzoNakamura Fri, 01 Sep 2006 10:10:44 GMT


上司の指示に従って、懸命に働ている積もりだが、果たして、きっちり評価されているのだろうか、あるいは、いずれ報われるのだろうか等と不安になり、一言、愚痴りたくなる時もあります。今回は、そんな状況にまつわる表現をみてみましょう。

“work one’s fingers to the bone” です。
これは、「猛烈に働く、身を粉にして働く」という意味です。

この表現は、１９世紀、重労働を強いる裁縫工場で、指の皮膚や肉がすりむけ、指が使えなくなるまで働いたというところからきています。他人のことについては同情的に、自分のことについては不平口調で使います。

下の例で、トムが会社で昇進することになりました。ハリーは、会社の為に、気の毒なくらい働いてきたのだからトムの昇進は当然だと共感します。トムも、懸命に働き続ければ、必ず報われるものだと満足そうです。



Harry : Hey, Tom. I heard you’ve been promoted. Congratulations!
Tom : Thanks.
Harry : Well, you’ve worked your fingers to the bone for this company. You deserve it.
Tom : I guess hard work does pay off.



同じような表現に、”work like a dog” があります。 これも「懸命に働く」という意味です。 “work one’s fingers to the bone” は、「あぁ、疲れた」といった気分を含みますが、この表現は、「こんなにやっている！」といった気分です。


9/1/2006

（イーストウエストジャーナル連載）




Work (one's) fingers to the bone To "work one's fingers to the bone" means to work extremely hard. Usually this is used to mean that one worked hard for a long period of time. This phrase is often used about oneself to complain or vent about how hard you have worked. "I've worked my fingers to the bone for my children." However, you can use this phrase about other people."Parents often work their fingers to the bone for their children." "Mrs. Jones works her fingers to the bones for her children." This phrase is usually used to describe extreme hardship.Figuratively, this phrase means that you worked to hard that there is nothing left on your fingers except bone. This, of course is an exaggeration, but you say this when you feel like you've worked so hard that you have nothing left. This phrase is often used for physical work but could also be applied to any kind of work.

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To be on a roll

Posted by: ShuzoNakamura Sun, 02 Jul 2006 07:12:24 GMT


やることなすこと、ことごとくうまくいく、そんな時があります。今回は、そんな事態を表現するイディオムをみてみましょう。

” To be on a roll ” です。
これは、何かをした時、うまくいく状態、期間が続いているということです。

「調子がいい、乗っている」といった感じですね。それは人生での成功かも知れませんし、スポーツやギャンブル、或いは、日常のささやかな出来事かも知れません。また、努力の賜物かも知れませんし、全くのつきかも知れません。

下の例で、ビルは、今回も顧客へのプレゼンに成功しました。３回続けて成功をおさめたので、この幸運が続くことを願っています。



Charles : Hey, Bill. How did the presentation go?
Bill : It went really well. The client liked this proposal, too.
Charles: Wow, that’s the third time. They seem to really like our stuff.
Bill: Yeah, we’re really on a roll.
Charles: Well, I hope this streak continues.



何もアクションを起こしていない時、また、一回限りの場合には、この表現は使いません。単に、” I got a lucky.” と表現します。例えば、混雑する街中で、今日は、どこに行っても不思議と駐車スペースが見つかったという場合に、”we’re ona roll.” と表現します。

7/2/2006

（イーストウエストジャーナル連載）




On a roll
To be “on a roll” means to be going through a period of continuous good luck or success. This could be success in life, business, sports, or gambling. It means that you seem to be doing well now and will continue to do so. If things are going well in your life and you are doing well in whatever you attempt, you are on a roll.If all your business endeavors are going well, you are on a roll. If you are on a winning streak doing a sport, you are on a roll. If you are gambling and continue to win, you are on a roll. This could be just because of luck, or it could be because you are able to work hard and well. When you are on a roll, things start going well for you and then they just keep getting better and better.

Charles: Hey, Bill. How did the presentation go? Bill: It went really well. The client liked this proposal, too. Charles: Wow, that's the third time. They seem to really like our stuff. Bill: Yeah, we're really on a roll. Charles: Well, I hope this streak continues.

If a rock or other round object is rolling down a hill, it continues to go faster and faster as it goes. We say that it is accelerating and gaining momentum. In other words, as it goes faster and faster, the harder it is to stop. Newton's First Law of Motion states that “An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. If you are not doing anything, it is hard to start doing something, but once you make the effort and start doing something it is hard to stop. People who are concerned because nothing good is happening in their lives should just get up and do something. And then, maybe they'll get to be "on a roll."

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Anzuru yori umu ga yasushi

Posted by: ShuzoNakamura Wed, 28 Jun 2006 21:47:23 GMT


案ずるより生むが易し

あんずるよりうむがやすし

 



あれこれ悩んで心配していたことも、
実際にやってみたら意外と簡単にできる場合が多いこと。

あれこれ なやんで しんぱいしていたことも、
じっさいにやってみたら いがいとかんたんにできるばあいがおおいこと。




"Anzuru yori umu ga yasushi" means, "Doing it is easier than worrying about it." A lot of us spend so much time worrying about being able to do something when the actual doing of it really isn't that hard at all. To some extent, worrying about things helps us to prepare for them, but if we worry too much it actually wastes energy, especially if it gets in the way or makes us too afraid of actually doing something about it.

 

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