put one’s weight behind ~ #2

オバマ大統領とミシェル夫人は女子教育の拡充を訴えています。記事はNewsweekからの引用です。冒頭のput one’s weight behind ~は以前にもブログに採り上げましたが，「自分の権威[地位]を使ってA〈人考えなど〉を支援する」という意味のイディオム（『プログレッシブ英和中辞典』小学館）。英英辞書にもto use all your power and influence to support someone or something（LDOCE）とあり，このことからも主語になれるのは「力」を持つ限られた人物であることがわかります。（Koyamamoto）

cf. http://d.hatena.ne.jp/A30/20121218/1355784408

Obamas Launch ‘Let Girls Learn’ Education Initiative
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama Tuesday put their weight behind Let Girls Learn, an initiative to help girls around the world attend secondary school and complete their education.
“Let Girls Learn” began as a United States Agency for International Development effort last summer, and featured a video with celebrities like Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel and Shonda Rhimes. The goal was “to provide the public with meaningful ways to help all girls to get a quality education,” building on past work on girls’ education and empowerment around the world. Now, the Obama administration will enhance existing programs and expand efforts across the government and through partnerships with the private sector.
http://www.newsweek.com/obamas-launch-let-girls-learn-education-initiative-311369