表現14)Does that ring a bell?(それでピンときた?)
さて、「ring a bell」とは…そう、そのまま訳すと「ベルを鳴らす」ですね。でも、どうして「ベルを鳴らす」が「ピンとくる」になるのか?これは、そう難しくはないですね(^^)。想像できますよね、頭の中でベルが鳴る様子を…?ん、そんなマンガなかった?そう、何かひらめいた時に頭の中(上?)で電球がつくマンガはよくありますね。英語の世界では(欧米か!…sorry…)その様子をベルを使って表すっていうことです。つまり、頭の中でベルがなる、ならす、ってこと。それが、「何かのきっかけで何かを思い出す」→「心当たりがある」「ピンとくる」って意味になるわけです。
では、今日の会話、どんな状況がいいかな~?そうだ!では、どうぞ…。
Nina: Hi, Nao. Where were you yesterday around 7 o’clock at night?
Nao: Yesterday? Ah, I was still working at my office.
Nina: Really? I called your office many times, but nobody answered.
Nao: Is that right? I may have been out already at that time.
Nina: Okay. Then, where were you?
Nao: Oh, I don’t know. Where was I? Seven, right?
Nina: Okay. I will help you. French Restaurant Bistro at Sheraton. Does that ring a bell?
Nao: Oh, yes, I remember now. I had a business meeting with my client…a sales manager….
Nina: A WOMAN sales manager in a sexy dress, right?
Nao: Yeah…well…ah…you know….
皆さんはこんな状況、まさか、心当たりないですよね。I hope it doesn’t ring a bell. Then, see you next time. Bye bye for now. nao(N.N.)(C)2006
さて、「ring a bell」とは…そう、そのまま訳すと「ベルを鳴らす」ですね。でも、どうして「ベルを鳴らす」が「ピンとくる」になるのか?これは、そう難しくはないですね(^^)。想像できますよね、頭の中でベルが鳴る様子を…?ん、そんなマンガなかった?そう、何かひらめいた時に頭の中(上?)で電球がつくマンガはよくありますね。英語の世界では(欧米か!…sorry…)その様子をベルを使って表すっていうことです。つまり、頭の中でベルがなる、ならす、ってこと。それが、「何かのきっかけで何かを思い出す」→「心当たりがある」「ピンとくる」って意味になるわけです。
では、今日の会話、どんな状況がいいかな~?そうだ!では、どうぞ…。
Nina: Hi, Nao. Where were you yesterday around 7 o’clock at night?
Nao: Yesterday? Ah, I was still working at my office.
Nina: Really? I called your office many times, but nobody answered.
Nao: Is that right? I may have been out already at that time.
Nina: Okay. Then, where were you?
Nao: Oh, I don’t know. Where was I? Seven, right?
Nina: Okay. I will help you. French Restaurant Bistro at Sheraton. Does that ring a bell?
Nao: Oh, yes, I remember now. I had a business meeting with my client…a sales manager….
Nina: A WOMAN sales manager in a sexy dress, right?
Nao: Yeah…well…ah…you know….
皆さんはこんな状況、まさか、心当たりないですよね。I hope it doesn’t ring a bell. Then, see you next time. Bye bye for now. nao(N.N.)(C)2006