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C2 語彙

C2イディオム25分

比喩的なイディオムと決まり文句

Figurative idioms and fixed expressions

red herring から the tip of the iceberg まで、12の生き生きとした比喩表現を、正しい形と適切な場面で使えるようにします。

イディオムは上級の英語に彩りと簡潔さを加えますが、決まった形なので、1語でも変えると効果が失われます。多くは状況全体を数語に凝縮した比喩です。意味だけでなく、それぞれの文法的な枠組み（名詞句なのか、代名詞や所有格を必要とする動詞句なのか）も覚えましょう。

a red herring名詞句
本当の問題から注意をそらす手がかりや事実The anonymous letter proved to be a red herring.
the elephant in the room名詞句
誰もが話題にするのを避ける、明らかで気まずい問題Falling sales were the elephant in the room at the meeting.
grasp the nettle動詞句
難しい問題を避けず、大胆に対処するWe must grasp the nettle and renegotiate the contract.
a mixed blessing名詞句
良い面と悪い面の両方がある物事Fame proved a mixed blessing for the young violinist.
run out of steam動詞句
何かを終える前に気力や熱意を失うThe campaign ran out of steam after the first month.
cut corners動詞句
より安く、または手早く済ませるために、たいてい質を落とすThe builders cut corners and the roof leaked within a year.
a damp squib名詞句
期待されたよりずっと印象が薄く、盛り上がらない出来事After months of publicity, the festival turned out to be a damp squib.
a storm in a teacup名詞句
取るに足らないことに対する大騒ぎThe argument over the parking space was a storm in a teacup.
rest on your laurels動詞句
過去の成功に安心して、努力をやめるHaving won twice, the team refused to rest on its laurels.
leave no stone unturned動詞句
何かを見つけたり達成したりするために、あらゆる手を尽くすThe inspector promised to leave no stone unturned.
the tip of the iceberg名詞句
はるかに大きな問題のうち、目に見えるごく一部Those three complaints are only the tip of the iceberg.
read between the lines動詞句
隠れた意味や言外の意味を読み取るIf you read between the lines, the letter is a warning.

練習問題 1/2

どのイディオムが合う？

各文を最もよく完成させるイディオムを選びましょう。

  1. The detective realised the muddy footprints were _____, laid to lead the search away from the real culprit.

  2. Everyone knew the company was losing money, but nobody dared mention it; it was _____ at every meeting.

  3. Working from home has been _____: I save two hours a day, but I miss my colleagues.

  4. The complaint about the late bus turned out to be _____; by lunchtime everyone had forgotten it.

  5. The three errors we found are only _____; the audit will probably reveal hundreds more.

  6. Do not _____ just because last year's sales were a record; the market is changing fast.

  7. Halfway through the long essay, Aiko began to _____ and could barely finish the paragraph.

  8. The contractor was accused of trying to _____ by using cheaper materials than those specified.

8問中0問回答

練習問題 2/2

慣用表現を完成させよう

このリストの語を1つずつ使って、各イディオムを完成させましょう：nettle, squib, stone, lines, steam, corners, laurels, teacup。各語は1回だけ使います。

  1. After weeks of excited publicity, the grand reopening was a damp : hardly anyone came.

  2. The inspector promised to leave no unturned in her search for the cause of the leak.

  3. The sender was clearly angry, though you had to read between the to see it.

  4. Having put off the difficult conversation for months, she finally decided to grasp the .

  5. I would never cut on safety checks, however tight the deadline.

  6. The campaign started brightly, but after six weeks it began to run out of .

  7. The row over who should wash up was a storm in a ; they had forgotten it by morning.

  8. The former champion was warned not to rest on her .

8問中0問回答

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