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「高望みする」と「青天井」 [単語・表現]

前回 reach for the stars を取り上げたが、連想で ask [cry] for the moonbite off more than you [one] can chew さらには The sky is the limit. といった表現が頭に浮かんだので、辞典の説明をまとめて抜き書きしておこう。

- to claim or desire something that one cannot have.

- to want something that is not possible
There's no point hoping for a permanent peace in the area. It's like asking for the moon. [usually in continuous tenses]

- take on a commitment one cannot fulfil.

- to decide or agree to do more than one can finally accomplish.

- to try to do something which is too difficult for you:
Clinton conceded, "We bit off more than we could chew in our original health care reform proposals."

- to try to do more than you are able to do
Don't bite off more than you can chew. Let someone else organize the party.

- to attempt something that exceeds one's capacity:
In trying to build a house by himself, he bit off more than he could chew.

対照的な The sky is the limit. は、数字などが「天井知らず」という場合だけでなく、「やろうと思えば何だってできる」と、可能性や将来について前向きにいう時にも使われるようだ。

"The sky is the limit" when there is almost no limit to how far you can go in what you are doing. Example: "For people who work hard at this company, the sky's the limit." You feel very optimistic (positive, hopeful) about your future because there are so many possibilities when "the sky's the limit." Example: "After I graduate from business school, the sky's the limit!"
( http://www.goenglish.com/TheSkyIsTheLimit.asp )

さらに chew が出てきたついでに、以前 chew the fat [rag] という表現を取り上げたことを付記しておく。

参考記事:
「井戸端会議」あれこれ

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