smug face「ドヤ顔」

前回の holier-than-thou からの連想で、smug という単語について短く触れておきたい。「ひとりよがりの」「自己満足の」「したり顔の」という意味で、smug face とすれば「”どんなもんだい”といった表情」を指し、いま風にいえば「ドヤ顔」ということになる。

次の実例は、来る日も来る日もトランプ大統領（当時）のことばかりニュースで取り上げられていて、顔を見るのもいやになった、という内容の記事からである。

- There is nothing that I have found more frustrating than opening the news app on my iPhone and only seeing the smug face of President Trump looking back at me. Why is it that the only thing news outlets report on is recycled President Trump information? No matter where you go, it’s President Trump on every single site. Personally, I’m sick of it.
("The media has become Trump-washed" Western Herald, March 21, 2017)

私の英語学習ノートにメモしていた実例も紹介しよう。後半は、ブッシュ（子）とオバマの２つの政権で国防長官をつとめたロバート・ゲーツ氏の回想録からで、政権の引き継ぎについて書いた一節で目にしたもの。

- Normally, he was quite debonair with his well-combed mop of gray hair and a sly, pleasant, kind of all-knowing, even smug smile.
(The Secret Man by Bob Woodward)

- No matter how well organized, well intentioned, and cordial a transition team is, its arrival in a cabinet department after an election always has the aura of a hostile takeover. We’re in, you’re out. We’ll now fix everything you screwed up over the past four or eight years. Often smug arrogance is plainly visible behind the smiles.
(Duty by Robert Gates)

英語圏の辞書から定義と例文を引用しておこう。

- Exhibiting or feeling great or offensive satisfaction with oneself or with one's situation; self-righteously complacent:
a smug look; a smug critic
(American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language)

- too pleased or satisfied about something you have achieved or something you know:
a smug grin
She deserved her promotion, but I wish she wasn't so smug about it.
There was a hint of smug self-satisfaction in her voice.
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

- Having or showing an excessive pride in oneself or one's achievements.
The Minister can sit there with a smug smile and a smug face, and he can shake his head all that he wants to.
He folded his hands behind his back as he walked, a smug smile on his face, surveying the venders.
I have rarely heard such nonsense delivered with such a smug air of authority.
(Oxford Dictionaries)


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