bow out
前田敦子さんがとうとうAKB48のメンバーから「卒業」してしまったそうです。今後、彼女はどういう活躍をしていくのでしょうか。
見出しのbow outについてです。bow「お辞儀をする」＋out「外へ」というPVから「お辞儀をして外に行く」イメージが容易につくと思います。『ジーニアス英和辞典 第４版』(大修館)によると、「≪略式≫[政治・地位・会社などから]身を引く、辞任する」という意味があるそうです。
さらに、LDOCEによると” to stop taking part in an activity, job etc, especially one that you have been doing for a long time”と定義されており、長い間活動をしていた人・ものに「お世話になり、うやうやしく身を引く」というニュアンスがあるようです。(Minnesota)
Kyodo
AKB48 member Maeda bows out
Launching herself in a new career direction as an actress, Atsuko Maeda performed for the last time Monday as a member of the all-girl pop group AKB48.
"From now on, I will be on the cheering side and I am looking forward to seeing everybody is doing great," Maeda said before the concert at AKB48 Theater in the Akihabara district in Tokyo that marked her "graduation."
Maeda was an original member of the group created in 2005 and named after the electronics and subculture district in Tokyo. Fans picked her as their favorite in 2009 and 2011 polls.
One of the most popular "idol" groups in Japan, AKB48 has churned out consecutive million-seller singles. The group has been trying to boost its presence beyond Japan, with producer Yasushi Akimoto creating the Jakarta-based JKT48 in 2011 and planning to launch the Taipei-based TPE48 and the Shanghai-based SNH48 later this year.
