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実践ビジネス英語 2008.07.23
2008年7月第4週分 Lesson 9 Career Activist (4)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
● 今日のテーマ
Tyson, Kinkaid, and Finch take a deeper look at the lives of workaholics and the quality-of-life crowd.
● "If both parents work full-time, like 60 or 70 hours a week" の like
Tyson uses the word "like" to introduce an example or estimate. He says, "If both parents work full-time, like 60 or 70 hours a week." This use of like is very common but mostly in casual or informal conversation. If you’re speaking more formally or if you’re writing, you probably say "for example."
● "a sort of career"
I think Kinkaid qualifies the word "career" with sort of, because most people don’t look at child-care and marriage as a career. A career is something you pursue outside of the home and get paid for. Recently, though, I read that if you estimate how much it would take to pay someone, to do all the things that the non-career spouse is doing at home. It would probably cost over $100,000 a year.
● be-all and end-all いちばんだいじなもの
"Be-all and end-all" is a phrase people use to mean most important. I think it tends to be used when you don’t think that’s the best idea.
・ the be-all and end-all (of sth) <informal> = the most important part; all that matters: Her career is the be-all and end-all of her existence. (OALD)
● OK, …. However, …
Tyson begins with the word "OK." You might be wondering what he’s agreeing to. He is kind of agreeing with himself. He’s saying, "Yes, it’s true," and then he tells you what he thinks is true.
It sounds like he accepts that — what he is going to say, but he’s also gonna say something that’s in contrast with it.
・ 2つめの発言にあるとおり，後ろの but, yet, however と呼応する譲歩の OK。It is true, to be sure, certainly, true などと同じ。
True, he is over 80, but … 確かに80を越えてはいるが，．．．
● sedentary あまり動かない，すわりがちの
・ sedentary <formal> spending a lot of time sitting down, and not moving or exercising very much
sedentary life/job/lifestyle etc : health problems caused by our sedentary lifestyles (LDOCE)
● put on pounds 体重が増える，太る
・ put on weight/12 lbs/4 kg etc = to become fatter and heavier [= gain]: Rosie’s put on five kilos since she quit smoking.
● quality-of-life crowd 生活の質にこだわる連中
Sometimes in English, you can use the word "crowd" to mean a specific group of people with similar characteristics. So in this case, Finch is talking about the group of people who are more interested in how they live rather than in what they have. You could also talk about the café crowd — people who like to go sit at coffee shops and talk.
・ A particular crowd is a group of friends, or a set of people who share the same interests or job. (INFORMAL) : All the old crowd have come out for this occasion. (COBUILD)
● major asset 大きな強み
・ Something or someone that is an asset is considered useful or helps a person or organization to be successful. : Her leadership qualities were the greatest asset of the Conservative Party… (COBUID)
● be stuck in a rut 閉塞状況にある，マンネリ化する
・ rut = If you say that someone is in a rut, you disapprove of the fact that they have become fixed in their way of thinking and doing things, and find it difficult to change. You can also say that someone’s life or career is in a rut. : I don’t like being in a rut — I like to keep moving on… (COBUILD)
● fly as high as the sky 高いところを目指す
cf. be flying high to be having a lot of success: The architectural firm has been flying high recently. (LDOCE)
● spread one’s wings 能力を発揮する，自分の力を試す
・ spread your wings = to start to have an independent life and experience new things: A year spent studying abroad should allow him to spread his wings a bit. (LDOCE)
● stand 耐える
Tyson chooses the word "stand" to mean "bear" or "put up with." I think he said "stand," because a contrast with "sit still and …" makes it kind of a nice little package to express his idea.
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rickie
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