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punch above your weight 「実力以上の力を発揮する」「健闘する」 [単語・表現]
CNNのサイトを見ていたらK-POPについての記事があった。韓国のカルチャー系ニュースは英語圏メディアのサイトでもよく目にするようになった感があり、一方で日本の存在感が低下しているようで残念だが、それはともかく、その記事から punch above one's weight という表現を取り上げよう。
日本でも報じられた最近のスキャンダルが、韓国エンタメ産業の世界展開に大きな痛手となりかねない、という内容である。
- South Korea's entertainment industry is a cultural juggernaut that has allowed the East Asian nation to punch well above its weight in terms of global soft power.
But a digital sex scandal that police say involves some of K-Pop's biggest stars has rocked the K-Pop world, leaving it facing a reckoning from which some believe it might not recover.
("K-Pop in crisis: Scandal threatens to end the 'Korean Wave' and exposes culture of toxic masculinity" CNN March 22, 2019)
この表現は手持ちの辞書には載っていなかったが、オンラインの辞書を見ると、
- To perform, achieve, or do something at a level that is considered beyond one's abilities, talents, or personal attributes.
The small-town mayor has been punching above her weight recently, going head-to-head with federal lawmakers over the issue of immigration reform.
(Farlex Dictionary of Idioms)
- If a country or business punches above its weight, it becomes involved in, or succeeds in, an activity that needs more power, money, etc. than it seems to have:
Singapore punches above its weight in the world economy.
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus)
- If a person, organization or place punches above their weight, they have more influence or power than people would expect them to have.
The small Florida city of Tallahassee has always considered itself to punch above its weight when it comes to sport.
(Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary)
などと書かれている。余談だが３つ目の「コウビルド」の説明は、単数を they で受けていて、最近の英語の傾向を反映しているのだろう（参考→ 2015年の Word of the Year は単数（！）の they）。
ということでこの表現は、本来の力に釣り合わないような挑戦を示すと考えればよさそうだ。タイトルは「実力以上の力を発揮する」「健闘する」としてみたが、うまくいった場合に限らず、背伸びをしたが結果を出せなかった、無理をしてやっぱりうまくいかなかった、という文脈でも使えるはずだ。ネットを見ると、確かに、
- For the first time since 2001, Ireland failed to punch above their weight at a global event and, as a result, missed out on a fourth successive ICC World Cup.
("Out-of-form Ireland miss out on World Cup return" Belfast Telegraph March 26 2018)
- The one notable exception was that of Anthony Eden, who, in 1956, not only tried to "punch above his weight", but chose the wrong opponent.
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199798/ldhansrd/vo980731/text/80731-04.htm
というような例がある。
容易に想像できるように、この表現はボクシングに由来する。体重（による階級）では思いもよらないようなパンチを繰り出す、というイメージであろうか。そのへんの説明を以下引用しよう。
- engage in an activity or contest perceived as being beyond your capacity or abilities.
This is a metaphor from boxing, in which contests are arranged between opponents of nearly equal weight.
(Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary)
- Competing against someone who you are no match for.
（中略）
The sport is regulated so that only boxers of the same weight fight each other. Someone from a lighter weight wouldn't be expected to have much chance if 'punching above his weight' against a heavier fighter.
The term is often used figuratively in situations where someone finds themselves competing outside their usual class.
(The Phrase Finder)
過去の参考記事：
・100パーセントでは不十分 (110 percent)
にほんブログ村←参加中です
日本でも報じられた最近のスキャンダルが、韓国エンタメ産業の世界展開に大きな痛手となりかねない、という内容である。
- South Korea's entertainment industry is a cultural juggernaut that has allowed the East Asian nation to punch well above its weight in terms of global soft power.
But a digital sex scandal that police say involves some of K-Pop's biggest stars has rocked the K-Pop world, leaving it facing a reckoning from which some believe it might not recover.
("K-Pop in crisis: Scandal threatens to end the 'Korean Wave' and exposes culture of toxic masculinity" CNN March 22, 2019)
この表現は手持ちの辞書には載っていなかったが、オンラインの辞書を見ると、
- To perform, achieve, or do something at a level that is considered beyond one's abilities, talents, or personal attributes.
The small-town mayor has been punching above her weight recently, going head-to-head with federal lawmakers over the issue of immigration reform.
(Farlex Dictionary of Idioms)
- If a country or business punches above its weight, it becomes involved in, or succeeds in, an activity that needs more power, money, etc. than it seems to have:
Singapore punches above its weight in the world economy.
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus)
- If a person, organization or place punches above their weight, they have more influence or power than people would expect them to have.
The small Florida city of Tallahassee has always considered itself to punch above its weight when it comes to sport.
(Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary)
などと書かれている。余談だが３つ目の「コウビルド」の説明は、単数を they で受けていて、最近の英語の傾向を反映しているのだろう（参考→ 2015年の Word of the Year は単数（！）の they）。
ということでこの表現は、本来の力に釣り合わないような挑戦を示すと考えればよさそうだ。タイトルは「実力以上の力を発揮する」「健闘する」としてみたが、うまくいった場合に限らず、背伸びをしたが結果を出せなかった、無理をしてやっぱりうまくいかなかった、という文脈でも使えるはずだ。ネットを見ると、確かに、
- For the first time since 2001, Ireland failed to punch above their weight at a global event and, as a result, missed out on a fourth successive ICC World Cup.
("Out-of-form Ireland miss out on World Cup return" Belfast Telegraph March 26 2018)
- The one notable exception was that of Anthony Eden, who, in 1956, not only tried to "punch above his weight", but chose the wrong opponent.
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199798/ldhansrd/vo980731/text/80731-04.htm
というような例がある。
容易に想像できるように、この表現はボクシングに由来する。体重（による階級）では思いもよらないようなパンチを繰り出す、というイメージであろうか。そのへんの説明を以下引用しよう。
- engage in an activity or contest perceived as being beyond your capacity or abilities.
This is a metaphor from boxing, in which contests are arranged between opponents of nearly equal weight.
(Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary)
- Competing against someone who you are no match for.
（中略）
The sport is regulated so that only boxers of the same weight fight each other. Someone from a lighter weight wouldn't be expected to have much chance if 'punching above his weight' against a heavier fighter.
The term is often used figuratively in situations where someone finds themselves competing outside their usual class.
(The Phrase Finder)
過去の参考記事：
・100パーセントでは不十分 (110 percent)
にほんブログ村←参加中です
にほんブログ村← 参加中です
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