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。

roller-coaster

ハリケーン・サンディ等色々あった選挙戦も大詰めです。

ジェット・コースターは和製英語であることは周知のことですが、roller-coasterには「大荒れの状態、激しい浮き沈み」(『ジーニアス英和辞典 第4版』大修館)という意味があります。赤字のa roller coaster of election campaignは「激動の選挙選」といったところでしょうか。

余談ですが、ジェットコースターという意味でのcoasterはアメリカ英語で、古めのイギリス英語ではbig dipperという表現があります。(LDOCE; British English old-fashioned a small railway in a funfair, with steep slopes and sharp curves to give an exciting ride )(Minnesota)

Roller-coaster campaign concludes with Tuesday's vote

Washington (CNN) -- A roller-coaster ride of an election campaign, buffeted by a superstorm and missteps on both sides, finally concludes Tuesday when America decides if President Barack Obama gets a second term or Republican challenger Mitt Romney will move into the White House in January.

In a contest reflecting the nation's deep political chasm, Obama and Romney ran dead even in final polls that hinted at a result rivaling some of the closest presidential elections in history.

The outcome will influence the direction of a government and country facing chronic federal deficits and debt as well as sluggish economic growth in the wake of a devastating recession and financial industry collapse that confronted Obama when he took office as the first African American president in January 2009.

Voters also will determine the makeup of a new Congress, choosing all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 33 of the 100 senators. Analysts expect Republicans to maintain control of the House and Democrats to keep their narrow advantage in the Senate.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/06/politics/election-2012/index.html?hpt=hp_t1