常時英心:言葉の森から 1.0

約10年間,はてなダイアリーで英語表現の落穂拾いを行ってきました。現在はAmeba Blogに2.0を開設し,継続中です。こちらはしばらくアーカイブとして維持します。

against the clock

フランスの学校で起こった襲撃事件,これ以上の犠牲を防ぐために警察は捜査を急いでいます。その様子をBBC newsはagainst the clockと表現しています。これは「時間に追われて,時間とにらめっこで」という意味(『オーレックス英和辞典』旺文社)。LDOCEではyou work as quickly as you can, because you do not have much timeと定義されています。次の襲撃は既に計画されており,その時までチクタクチクタクと時間は過ぎて行きます。それまで一秒も無駄にできない緊急性が伺われます。(Sugiuchi)

There is no clear motive, in this investigation, but it is an inescapable fact that all the victims have been Jewish, black or of north African descent.
The police are working against the clock, hoping they have put enough resources in the region to serve as the deterrent.
But the serial killer may develop an urge to take greater and greater risks, and the fear is that he is already planning his next attack.
There is a pattern to the style and frequency of the shootings - so far they have come every four days. And that puts the focus and concern on Friday - the Muslim day of prayer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17451064