slug it out 復習

セブンイレブンは2018年にも沖縄への出店を目指す方針です。

Seven-Eleven to battle for supremacy in Okinawa

Seven-Eleven Japan Co. will begin its advance into Okinawa Prefecture as early as 2018 and hopes to open about 300 outlets there.

The leading convenience store chain operator in Japan is currently holding talks with local businesses including food companies and will tie up some deals prior to opening the new stores.

A number of products are being sold in Okinawa’s convenience stores that are considered standard only in the southern prefecture, such as “taco rice,” or rice topped with taco filling, and “pork tamago onigiri,” a rice ball with Spam and an omelet sandwiched in it.

“The presence of a unique culinary culture here means it would be indispensable to team up with Okinawan businesses (if you wish to enter the market here),” said an Okinawan retailing industry insider.

The arrival of Seven-Eleven will further intensify competition in the convenience store battle in Japan's southernmost prefecture where FamilyMart Co. and Lawson Inc. are currently slugging it out.

以下省略

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201610300003.html

今回取り上げる表現は “slug it out” です。『ライトハウス英和辞典』（第5版　研究社）で調べると、自動詞で「白黒をつけるまで戦う」とありました。LDOCEには “if two people slug it out, they fight or compete until one of them has won” と定義されており、どちらか一方が勝つまで終われない状態のことを表します。
今回は、ファミリーマートとローソンが沖縄県内でしのぎを削っている様子を“slug it out” で表現しています。

この表現は過去にも取り上げられておりました。（aqua）
slug it out - 田邉祐司ゼミ 常時英心：言葉の森から