robbery spree 「連続強盗」

いま世間を騒がせている連続強盗事件はまるで小説かドラマのようだが、関連する英文記事を読んでいたら、robbery spree という表現が目に留まった。

spree は、shopping spree 「爆買い」「買いまくり」などで目にする単語で、「（何かに）ふけること」「～三昧」「やりたい放題」また「バカ騒ぎ」といった訳語が辞書に並んでいるが、浮かれた行為ばかりではなく、犯罪にも使えるわけである。

- Tokyo police arrest seven with possible links to robbery spree
（見出し）
(NHK World, January 26, 2023)

- A spate of robberies across Japan suspected to be linked to a certain criminal group was apparently performed by people hired for "shady gigs" through social media.
There also are suspicions that members of the group behind the robbery spree may be involved in the killing of 90-year-old Kinuyo Oshio, found dead in her Komae, Tokyo home on Jan. 19, the apparent victim of a murder-robbery.
("String of robberies in Japan apparently committed by social media hired help" Mainichi, January 24, 2023)

burglary spree とか crime spree という言い方もできるのではないか、と考えて検索したら、その通りだった。

- Police have arrested four men in multiple burglaries that occurred throughout Nassau County from July to October, including one in Greenvale.
("Four Latin men arrested in Nassau burglary spree" The Island 360, November 14, 2022)

- The Tampa Police Department located and arrested two teenagers on Wednesday linked to a spree of crimes in the city.
("Tampa PD arrests teen duo in crime spree" Tampa.gov, Januayry 26, 2023)

crime spree は見出し項目にしている辞書もあった。

- a series of crimes committed in quick succession
In the week leading up to Christmas burglars go on a crime spree
He went on a six-month crime spree.
(Collins English Dictionary)

またネットの情報では、2003年に Crime Spree というカナダ・イギリスのコメディ映画が製作されているが、日本での上映についての情報は見つからず、公開されなかったのかもしれない。

spree の説明を英語圏の辞書から引用しよう。killing spree なんて言い方も載っている。

- a short period of time that you spend doing one particular activity that you enjoy, but often too much of it
a shopping/spending spree
He's out on a spree.
(Oxford Learner's Dictionaries)

- a short period of doing a particular, usually enjoyable, activity much more than is usual:
I went on a drinking/shopping/spending spree on Saturday.
20 people were shot dead in the city, making it the worst killing spree since the riots.
(Cambridge Dictionary)

- 1 a lively frolic or outing.
2 a bout or spell of drinking to intoxication; binge; carousal.
3 a period, spell, or bout of indulgence, as of a particular wish, craving, or whim:
an eating spree; a spending spree.
4 a period or outburst of extreme activity:
the team’s scoring spree;
no motive for his killing spree.
(Dictionary.com)


にほんブログ村←参加中です