crunch time#2
イギリスのEU離脱案が浮上している件についての記事です。近日開催されるEUサミットで，国民投票の結果，EU離脱派が多数を占めた場合，その効力をEU諸国に認めさせることなどを主張するようです。
見出しの中で気になった表現は"crunch time"です。英辞郎によると「試練の時」という意味がありました。Merriam-Webster.comには"the most important time in a game, event, etc. : a critical moment"と定義されております。同辞書では例文として"with only three minutes left in the game, it was definitely crunch time"と書かれておりました。試合の残り時間があとわずかであり，「正念場」であることが伝わります。(Ume)
EU summit: 'Crunch time' for Cameron's reform hopes
David Cameron's bid to win backing for his EU reforms has reached "crunch time", a UK government official says.
The prime minister heads for a Brussels summit later hoping to agree a deal on changes that will pave the way for the UK's in/out referendum.
It follows months of negotiations between officials, with the PM visiting 20 member states to make his case.
EU Council President Donald Tusk told the BBC leaders had "no choice" but to agree a deal at the two-day summit.
Campaigners for a UK exit from the EU have dismissed the draft reforms as trivial, saying the only way to achieve change is to vote to leave.
In his official invitation to the gathering, Mr Tusk said there was "no guarantee" a deal would be reached, with "difficult" differences remaining on key issues.
He said the negotiations were at a "very advanced" stage and failure now "would be a defeat both for the UK and the European Union, but a geopolitical victory for those who seek to divide us".
