プログレッシブ和英中辞典(第4版)の解説
ことば【言葉】
❶〔言語〕(a) language, speech
言葉の壁
a language barrier
この国では三か国語が使われている
Three languages are spoken in this country.
人間には言葉を話す能力がある
Man has 「the gift of speech [the ability to use language].
フランス語で言葉が通じた
I was able to make myself understood in French.
京言葉で
in the Kyoto dialect
❷〔単語〕a word；〔語句〕a phrase；〔表現〕an expression
感情を言葉に表す
express one's feelings in words
別の言葉で言えば
in other words／to put it another way
大統領は言葉を慎重に選んで話しているようであった
The President seemed to be choosing his words carefully.
彼の言うことは言葉どおりに受け取れない
You can't take him at his word.
言葉巧みに
with honeyed [sweet/glib] words
彼は実に言葉巧みである
He has a very glib tongue.
言葉のあや
a figure of speech
言葉に詰まる
be at a loss for words／be unable to find a suitable word
陳腐な言葉
a stereotyped phrase [expression]／a cliché
その感じは言葉に言い表せない
The sensation is beyond expression [description].／The sensation is indescribable [inexpressible].
❸〔言い方〕
彼は言葉に角がある
He talks sarcastically [bitingly].
彼は言葉が荒い
He is rough-spoken.
彼女は言葉になまりがある
She speaks with an accent.
言葉静かに語る
talk in a calm [quiet] tone
目上の人に向かって言うべき言葉ではない
That is no way to talk to your superiors.／You should not use that kind of language with your superiors.
❹〔言ったこと〕 ((make)) a statement, a remark；〔演説〕a speech
悪意に満ちた言葉
a malicious statement [remark]
彼の言葉が忘れられない
His words still linger in my mind.／I cannot forget what he said.
人の言葉を遮る
interrupt a person／break in while a person is talking
彼は告別の言葉を述べた
He made a farewell address [speech].
言葉に甘える
お言葉に甘えて，そうさせていただきます
If you're sure it's all right, I'll take you up on it.
じゃ，お言葉に甘えて
〔軽い調子で〕Well then, I'll take you up on it.
言葉に余る
この感謝の気持ちは言葉に余るほどです
I don't know how to express my gratitude.
言葉を返す
talk back ((to))；retort ((that))；answer ((a person)) back
返す言葉もなかった
I was at a loss for an answer.／There was nothing I could say.
お言葉を返すようですが，私の言った意味はちょっと違うのです
「I am sorry to contradict you [I hate to disagree with you], but that's not what I meant.
言葉を飾る
言葉を飾って人を褒める
sing the praises of a person in fine language
この詩は言葉を飾っているだけで中身がない
This poem is full of rhetorical flourishes, but it has little content.
言葉を飾らずに言う
call a spade a spade／not mince matters [(one's) words]
言葉を借りる
彼の言葉を借りて言えば，彼女は月の女神だ
「To borrow his expression [As he puts it/In his phrase], she is a Diana.
言葉を添える
はたから彼が言葉を添えて私の説明を助けてくれた
He added a word to help me while I was explaining.
息子の就職にあたってお言葉を添えていただけると有り難いんですが
It would greatly help my son (to) find employment if you could put in a good word for him.
言葉を尽くす
言葉を尽くして説明すれば分かってくれる
He'll understand if you explain carefully [patiently].
言葉を慎む
言葉を慎みなさい
Mind your language.／Watch what you say!
言葉を濁す
speak ambiguously [evasively]; do not commit oneself
言葉書き
〔和歌などの前書き〕a foreword ((to a tanka))；〔絵巻物の説明文〕an explanatory note ((added to a picture scroll))；〔絵本の会話の文〕the dialogue between the characters ((in a picture book))
言葉少な
彼はその出来事を言葉少なに語った
He told us about the event concisely [briefly].
言葉つき