beef up 復習
政府の人身取引対策推進会議は２０日、２０１５年に国内で人身取引の被害で保護された人が計５４人いたと発表しました。
54 rescued from human trafficking in Japan in 2015
TOKYO —A total of 54 people were rescued from human trafficking operations in Japan last year, up 29 from the previous year, according to a government report.
Of the rescued victims, some who were forced into prostitution and slavery, Filipinos made up the largest share by nationality at 30, followed by Japanese at 13 and Thai nationals at 10. Women were most targeted with 50 freed, while four males escaped forced bondage.
The annual report was approved Friday at a meeting of Cabinet ministers called to discuss the prevention of human trafficking. The government said releasing the data will raise public awareness, helping to end the practice.
“Human trafficking is not just a serious human rights violation, but also a significant international problem,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who chaired the meeting held at the prime minister’s office.
The meeting was attended by relevant Cabinet ministers including Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and National Public Safety Commission Chairman Taro Kono.
The government’s annual report, the second of its kind, was issued following the adoption of an action plan to fight human trafficking in December 2014.
The action plan called for the reinforcement of immigration controls and beefing up of support for trafficking victims.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/54-rescued-from-human-trafficking-in-japan-in-2015
今回注目した表現は、“beefing up”です。“beef”は名詞で「牛肉」を指しますが、『ウィズダム英和辞典』(第３版、三省堂)を引いたところ、動詞として用いて“beef A up[up A]”で「Aを強化[補強]する」という意味になるようです。
Macmillan Dictionary.comでは“to increase or improve something, or to make it more interesting”というように定義されており、
The hotel plans to beef up its marketing effort.
という例文が示されていました。
ちなみに、“beef”には「«…のことで»ぶつぶついう«about»」という意味の動詞的用法もあります(『ウィズダム英和辞典』)。名詞的用法の第２義に「不平、文句」という意味があり、そこからきているのだと考えられます。
今回の表現は、過去にも複数回取り上げられておりました。なぜ“beef up”が「強化する」という意味を持つのかということに触れている記事もありましたので、ぜひご覧ください。
(Blue Sky)
