nuisance call
東京都千代田区にある法律相談所に、330回も迷惑電話をかけ業務を妨害した容疑で女性が逮捕されました。
Woman arrested for making 330 nuisance calls to law firm
TOKYO — Police in Tokyo have arrested a 35-year-old woman on a charge of obstruction of a business after she made 330 nuisance calls to a law firm.
The suspect, Yoko Nakano, a former employee of a telecommunications company, is accused of making the calls to the law firm in Chiyoda Ward for nine days from March 4, Sankei Shimbun reported. Nakano is said to have left messages, such as “You should die,” or would simply hang up the phone without saying anything.
According to police, two years ago in May, Nakano reported a case of “power harassment” directed at her by the boss of her company. She consulted the law firm which carried out an investigation but concluded there was not enough evidence to prove that harassment occurred in the workplace. Police believe that Nakano, vexed by the conclusion of the law firm, began the phone calls.
Nakano has denied the charge. However, police believe she is actually responsible for at least 500 nuisance calls since last December.
今回取り上げるのは、“nuisance call”という表現です。それぞれの単語から意味は想像できると思いますが、念のために“nuisance”をLDOCEで確認してみると、“a person, thing, or situation that annoys you or causes problems”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）では、「いやな〔はた迷惑な〕人・物、迷惑行為」といった意味が記載されていました。したがって、“nuisance call”で「イタズラ電話、迷惑電話」などと表せます。また以前に上記の意味で“prank call”が取り上げられているので、それと併せて覚えておきたいです。
