backfire 復習
旅行大手のHISは１１日、海外旅行に向かう機内で、写真誌「東大美女図鑑」のモデルとなった現役女子大生が隣に座ってくれるキャンペーンを始めると発表しましたが、セクハラではないかと批判され、即日で中止を決めました。
H.I.S. cancels travel with 'beautiful girls' campaign after complaints
TOKYO —Major travel agency H.I.S. Travel has cancelled a campaign offering overseas-bound Japanese travellers the opportunity to be accompanied by “beautiful girls from the University of of Tokyo (Todai).”
H.I.S. pulled the campaign on Wednesday, only 12 hours after it was launched, following complaints on its website and Twitter account that the campaign was sexual harassment, Sankei Shimbun reported Thursday.
The controversial campaign said that five college student models appearing in the popular biannual book “Todai bijo zukan” (Pictorial Guide to the Beautiful Girls of Todai) would be available to sit next to customers, chosen by lottery, throughout their flight to an overseas destination.
According to H.I.S, the five winners would be able to choose one out of five “Beautiful Girls” from the prestigious university to sit next to them. In addition to accompanying the travellers to their destination, the girls would also offer commentary on various tourist attractions, as well as oversee the homework of the children of the travellers, if necessary.
The campaign was scheduled to be held in July and August and the travel costs of the students would be covered by H.I.S.
In an attempt at damage control, H.I.S explained, “The concept behind the campaign was to introduce a fresh and innovative inflight experience.”
However, the campaign backfired, receiving harsh criticism online. One commenter said: “If customers are hoping to gain travel knowledge, is it necessary for them to travel with a female college student?” Another said: “Foreign passengers traveling on the same flight may interpret the situation in a strange manner.”
今回取り上げる表現は、“backfire”です。『ウィズダム英和辞典』(第３版、三省堂)を引いたところ、「〈計画・言動などが〉«人などにとって»逆効果になる、裏目に出る、期待はずれになる«on»」とありました。
Macmillan Dictionary.comでは、“if a plan or idea backfires, it has the opposite effect to the one that you wanted”と定義されており、
His plan backfired when Sue discovered the hidden presents.
という例文が示されていました。
また、名詞として“backfire”を用いると、「逆火」という意味になります。「逆火(さかび、ぎゃっか)」の意味が分からなかったので『広辞苑』(第６版)で調べたところ、「内燃機関で、シリンダー内で燃焼すべき混合ガスが、吸気管・気化器などへ炎を逆流させる現象。点火時期の不整などによる。バックファイア。」と説明されていました。要するに、炎がガスが出てくる管の方へ逆流してしまう現象をいいます。(Blue Sky)
過去にも“backfire”は複数回取り上げられております、そちらもご覧ください。
