level against
甘利明経済再生担当大臣が、千葉県のある建設会社から口利きの見返りとして現金を受け取ったことに関する週刊誌の報道を受け、定例の会見のあと，短い釈明を行いました。
Japan’s economic minister hit with bribery allegations, vows response
Economic and fiscal policy minister Akira Amari vowed on Wednesday night to answer accusations of graft leveled against him by a weekly tabloid.
During a news conference in Tokyo, Amari — best known for the pivotal roles he played last year in helping Japan successfully strike a Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal with the United States and 10 other nations, — repeatedly dodged questions on the allegation that he and his secretary received bribes totaling at least \12 million over the past three years.
Online excerpts of an article to be published in this week’s issue of tabloid magazine Shukan Bunshun alleged Wednesday that Amari, 66, and his secretary accepted the money from an unidentified worker at a Chiba-based construction company over an extended period, in what would amount to a breach of graft and political funding laws.
今回取り上げるのは、“level against”という表現です。“level”という単語を聞くと、「水準、水平、レベル」といった意味が思い浮かびます。しかし、この記事を見てみると動詞として用いられていることが分かります。そこでLDOCEで調べてみると、“to aim criticism etc at a particular person, country etc, especially publicly”と定義されていました。さらに『ジーニアス英和辞典』（大修館書店）でも確認してみると、「〈銃・視線など〉を向ける、〈非難など〉を向ける、浴びせる」と記載されており、今回は後者の意味で使用されています。(ninetails)
