The Monkey's Paw — Idioms & Expressions

慣用句

after it was too late

字義: 遅すぎた後で

意味: 手遅れになってから、取り返しがつかなくなってから

Mr. White, who, having seen a fatal mistake after it was too late, was amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it.

慣用句

the worst of

字義: 〜の最悪のもの

意味: 〜の困った点、〜の欠点

That's the worst of living so far out,

慣用句

out-of-the-way

字義: 道から外れた

意味: 辺鄙な、へんぴな、人里離れた

of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst.

慣用句

Never mind

字義: 決して気にするな

意味: 気にしないで、大丈夫よ

Never mind, dear,

平易すぎるため除外も検討したが、学習者がつまずく可能性あり

慣用句

just in time to

字義: 〜するちょうどその時間に

意味: ちょうど間に合って〜する、タイミングよく〜する

Mr. White looked up sharply, just in time to intercept a knowing glance between mother and son.

慣用句

condoled with himself

字義: 自分自身を慰めた

意味: （悪天候などについて）自分も不平を言った

The new arrival also condoled with himself,

ユーモラスな表現

慣用句

At the third glass

字義: 3番目のグラスで

意味: 3杯目（のウイスキー）を飲んだ頃には

At the third glass his eyes got brighter,

glassが飲み物の量を表す換喩

慣用句

squared his broad shoulders

字義: 肩を四角くした

意味: 肩を張って（堂々と）座った

as he squared his broad shoulders in the chair

慣用句

a slip of a youth

字義: 青年の切れ端

意味: ほっそりした若者、か細い青年

When he went away he was a slip of a youth in the warehouse.

慣用句

look round

字義: 丸く見る

意味: 見て回る、見物する

just to look round a bit, you know.

慣用句

what you might call

字義: あなたが呼ぶかもしれないもの

意味: いわゆる、まあ〜とでも言うべきもの

Well, it's just a bit of what you might call magic, perhaps,

慣用句

drew back

字義: 後ろに引いた

意味: 身を引いた、後ずさりした

Mrs. White drew back with a grimace,

慣用句

to their sorrow

字義: 彼らの悲しみに向かって

意味: 悲しむ結果となって、不幸にも

and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow.

慣用句

think anything of it

字義: それについて何かを考える

意味: believe it has value or importance（それに価値があると信じる）

Besides, people won't buy. They think it's a fairy tale; some of them, and those who do think anything of it want to try it first and pay me afterward.

否定形 'don't think anything of' は「重要視しない」の意

慣用句

burst into laughter

字義: 笑いの中に破裂する

意味: suddenly started laughing（突然笑い出した）

Her husband drew the talisman from pocket, and then all three burst into laughter

burst into は感情の突然の発露を表す定型表現

慣用句

in the business of

字義: 夕食のビジネスの中で

意味: while occupied with, during the activity of（～に忙しい間に）

In the business of supper the talisman was partly forgotten

business はここでは「活動、事柄」の意

慣用句

make much out of

字義: それから多くを作る

意味: gain much benefit or profit from（大きな利益を得る）

we sha'nt make much out of it.

make something out of は「～から利益を得る」という慣用句

慣用句

cleared the house

字義: 家を片付けた

意味: paid off the mortgage on the house（住宅ローンを完済する）

If you only cleared the house, you'd be quite happy, wouldn't you?

clear は「借金を清算する」という金融的慣用句

慣用句

do it

字義: それをする

意味: be enough, be sufficient（十分である、足りる）

that'll just do it.

do it は「目的を達成する、十分である」という意味

慣用句

no harm done

字義: 害はなされていない

意味: nothing bad has happened（悪いことは起きていない、問題ない）

there's no harm done

謝罪や心配に対する定型的な返答

慣用句

tied up

字義: 縛られて

意味: bundled together, wrapped（束ねられて、包まれて）

I expect you'll find the cash tied up in a big bag in the middle of your bed

tie up は物理的に縛る以外に「まとめる」意味もある

慣用句

ill-gotten gains

字義: 悪く得られた利益

意味: money or benefits obtained through dishonest means（不正に得た金銭や利益）

something horrible squatting up on top of the wardrobe watching you as you pocket your ill-gotten gains

古風な慣用句、法律・道徳的文脈で使用

慣用句

turn you into

字義: あなたを～の中に回転させる

意味: あなたを～に変える、変身させる

I'm afraid it'll turn you into a mean, avaricious man, and we shall have to disown you.

慣用句

at the expense of

字義: ～の費用で

意味: ～を犠牲にして、～をからかって

His mother laughed, and following him to the door, watched him down the road; and returning to the breakfast table, was very happy at the expense of her husband's credulity.

ここでは「夫の信じやすさをからかって楽しんでいた」という意味

慣用句

There, there

字義: そこ、そこ

意味: まあまあ、落ち着いて（慰めの表現）

There, there, mother,

慣用句

jump to conclusions

字義: 結論に飛びつく

意味: 早合点する、性急に結論を出す

Sit down, and don't jump to conclusions.

慣用句

broke off

字義: 折って離れた

意味: （話を）突然やめた、中断した

She broke off suddenly as the sinister meaning of the assurance dawned upon her and she saw the awful confirmation of her fears in the other's averted face.

慣用句

caught her breath

字義: 息を捕まえた

意味: 息を呑んだ、はっとした

She caught her breath, and turning to her slower-witted husband, laid her trembling old hand upon his.

慣用句

gave place to

字義: 場所を与えた

意味: ～に取って代わられた、～に置き換わった

But the days passed, and expectation gave place to resignation—the hopeless resignation of the old, sometimes miscalled, apathy.

古風な表現で、現代では 'gave way to' がより一般的

慣用句

with a start

字義: スタートと共に

意味: はっとして、びくっとして

He dozed fitfully, and then slept until a sudden wild cry from his wife awoke him with a start.

突然の驚きによる身体反応を表す

慣用句

started up

字義: 上に始めた

意味: 飛び起きた、はっと起き上がった

He started up in alarm.

突然の動作を表す古風な表現

慣用句

felt his way

字義: 彼の道を感じた

意味: 手探りで進んだ

He went down in the darkness, and felt his way to the parlour, and then to the mantelpiece.

暗闇での移動を表す慣用表現

慣用句

caught his breath

字義: 息を捕まえた

意味: 息をのんだ、はっとした

The talisman was in its place, and a horrible fear that the unspoken wish might bring his mutilated son before him ere he could escape from the room seized upon him, and he caught his breath as he found that he had lost the direction of the door.

驚きや恐怖による呼吸の変化を表す

慣用句

screwing up his courage

字義: 勇気をねじって上げる

意味: 勇気を振り絞る

The darkness was oppressive, and after lying for some time screwing up his courage, he took the box of matches, and striking one, went downstairs for a candle.

screw upは「ねじを締める」が原義だが、ここでは決意を固める意味の慣用句

慣用句

For God's sake

字義: 神のために

意味: お願いだから、頼むから

"For God's sake don't let it in," cried the old man, trembling.

強い懇願を表す慣用表現

慣用句

broke free

字義: 自由を壊した

意味: 振りほどいて逃れた

The old woman with a sudden wrench broke free and ran from the room.

break freeは拘束から逃れることを表す頻出イディオム

慣用句

called after her

字義: 彼女の後に呼んだ

意味: 彼女を呼び止めようとした

Her husband followed to the landing, and called after her appealingly as she hurried downstairs.

call afterは去っていく人を呼び止める際の慣用表現

慣用句

on his hands and knees

字義: 手と膝の上に

意味: 四つん這いになって

But her husband was on his hands and knees groping wildly on the floor in search of the paw.

四つん這いの姿勢を表す定型表現

慣用句

in time

意味: eventually; not late

White looked up sharply, just in time to intercept a knowing glance between mother and son.

慣用句

at last

意味: finally

“If you’ve had your three wishes, it’s no good to you now, then, Morris,” said the old man at last.

慣用句

in time

意味: eventually; not late

“If the tale about the monkey’s paw is not more truthful than those he has been telling us,” said Herbert, as the door closed behind their guest, just in time for him to catch the last train, “we sha’nt make much out of it.” “Did you give him anything for it, father?” inquired Mrs.

慣用句

make up one's mind

意味: decide

She was watching the mysterious movements of a man outside, who, peering in an undecided fashion at the house, appeared to be trying to make up his mind to enter.

慣用句

at last

意味: finally

“I—was asked to call,” he said at last, and stooped and picked a piece of cotton from his trousers.

慣用句

at length

意味: after a long time; in detail

“He was caught in the machinery,” said the visitor at length in a low voice.

比喩

putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils

字義: 王を実際の危険な状況に置いている

意味: チェスで王を危険な位置に動かしている（下手な指し方をしている）

Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.

チェスの文脈だが、字義通りに読むと誤解しやすい

比喩

died away on his lips

字義: 言葉が彼の唇の上で死んだ

意味: 言いかけた言葉が消えた、言葉が途切れた

The words died away on his lips,

比喩

family circle

字義: 家族の円

意味: 家族の団らん、家族の集まり

the little family circle regarding with eager interest this visitor from distant parts

比喩

jarred

字義: ガタガタと揺れた、震動した

意味: 場違いだった、不調和だった

His manner was so impressive that his hearers were conscious that their light laughter jarred somewhat.

音や感覚の比喩的使用

比喩

whitened

字義: 白くなった

意味: 青ざめた、血の気が引いた

and his blotchy face whitened.

恐怖や衝撃を表す慣用的表現

比喩

a hush fell upon

字義: 静けさが〜の上に落ちた

意味: 静寂が訪れた、しんと静まり返った

His tones were so grave that a hush fell upon the group.

比喩

doggedly

字義: 犬のように

意味: stubbornly, with determination（頑固に、決意をもって）

I won't, said his friend, doggedly.

犬の粘り強さに由来する比喩的副詞

比喩

colouring slightly

字義: わずかに色をつける

意味: blushing a little（少し赤面する）

A trifle, said he, colouring slightly.

colour は「赤面する」の婉曲的比喩表現

比喩

henpecked

字義: 雌鶏につつかれた

意味: dominated or nagged by one's wife（妻に支配される、小言を言われる）

then you can't be henpecked.

雌鶏が雄鶏をつつく様子からの比喩

比喩

darted round

字義: 矢のように回った

意味: moved quickly around（素早く動き回った）

He darted round the table, pursued by the maligned Mrs. White armed with an antimacassar.

dart は矢のような素早い動きを表す比喩

比喩

greeted the words

字義: 言葉に挨拶した

意味: responded to or accompanied the words（言葉に応えた、伴った）

A fine crash from the piano greeted the words

greet を擬人化して使う比喩表現

比喩

settled upon

字義: ～の上に定住した

意味: descended on, came over（～に降りかかった、覆った）

A silence unusual and depressing settled upon all three

settle upon は雰囲気や感情が「降りかかる」比喩

比喩

dying fire

字義: 死にゆく火

意味: fire that is going out, burning low（消えかけている火）

He sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire

dying は火が弱まることの比喩

比喩

simian

字義: 猿の

意味: monkey-like, ape-like（猿のような）

The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement.

simian は猿を連想させる文語的形容詞

比喩

dawned upon her

字義: 彼女の上に夜が明けた

意味: （真実が）彼女に分かってきた、理解し始めた

She broke off suddenly as the sinister meaning of the assurance dawned upon her and she saw the awful confirmation of her fears in the other's averted face.

dawn on/upon は「理解が訪れる」という比喩的表現

比喩

a senseless heap

字義: 意味のない山

意味: 意識を失った塊（倒れた人の様子を表す比喩）

Unconscious of his wife's shriek, the old man smiled faintly, put out his hands like a sightless man, and dropped, a senseless heap, to the floor.

senseless は「意識のない」、heap は人が崩れ落ちた様子を物体に喩えている

比喩

steeped in shadow and silence

字義: 家が影と静けさに浸かっている（物理的に液体に浸っている）

意味: 家が深い影と静けさに包まれている、満ちている

In the huge new cemetery, some two miles distant, the old people buried their dead, and came back to a house steeped in shadow and silence.

steep（浸す）の過去分詞を比喩的に使用

比喩

lighten this load

字義: この荷物を軽くする（物理的な重量を減らす）

意味: この重荷（悲しみ・苦しみ）を和らげる

It was all over so quickly that at first they could hardly realize it, and remained in a state of expectation as though of something else to happen—something else which was to lighten this load, too heavy for old hearts to bear.

精神的な負担を物理的な重さに喩えている

比喩

died away on his ears

字義: 音が彼の耳の上で死んだ

意味: すすり泣く声が次第に聞こえなくなった、消えていった

The sound of her sobs died away on his ears.

音が消えることを「死ぬ」と表現

比喩

quaking limbs

字義: 地震のように揺れている手足

意味: 恐怖で震えている手足

The man sat up in bed and flung the bedclothes from his quaking limbs.

quake（地震）を震えに比喩的に使用

比喩

his voice shook

字義: 彼の声が振動した（物理的に揺れた）

意味: 彼の声が震えた（感情的動揺により）

The old man turned and regarded her, and his voice shook.

感情による声の変化を物理的振動に喩えている

比喩

seized upon him

字義: 彼をつかんだ、捕らえた（物理的に）

意味: 彼を襲った、彼の心をとらえた

The talisman was in its place, and a horrible fear that the unspoken wish might bring his mutilated son before him ere he could escape from the room seized upon him, and he caught his breath as he found that he had lost the direction of the door.

恐怖が人を捕らえることを物理的行為に喩えている

比喩

it expired

字義: それ（蝋燭）が死んだ

意味: 蝋燭の火が消えた

The candle-end, which had burned below the rim of the china candlestick, was throwing pulsating shadows on the ceiling and walls, until, with a flicker larger than the rest, it expired.

expireは本来「息を引き取る」の意味だが、ここでは炎が消えることの比喩

比喩

his breath suspended

字義: 彼の息が吊り下げられた

意味: 息を詰めて、呼吸を止めて

He stood motionless, his breath suspended until the knock was repeated.

suspendは「宙吊りにする」が原義だが、ここでは恐怖で息を止めている状態の比喩

比喩

struggling mechanically

字義: 機械的にもがいている

意味: 無意識的に・反射的にもがいている

"It's my boy; it's Herbert!" she cried, struggling mechanically.

mechanicallyは「機械のように」が原義だが、ここでは意識せず反射的に動く様子を表す

比喩

A perfect fusillade of knocks

字義: 完璧な一斉射撃のようなノック

意味: 激しい連続したノック

A perfect fusillade of knocks reverberated through the house, and he heard the scraping of a chair as his wife put it down in the passage against the door.

fusilladeは「一斉射撃」の意味で、激しく連続するノックを軍事的比喩で表現

古風な表現

Hark at

字義: 不明瞭（現代英語にない表現）

意味: Listen to（〜を聞きなさい）

Hark at the wind,

古風な命令形、現代英語では使われない

古風な表現

I should hardly think

字義: 私はほとんど考えるべきではない

意味: I doubt / I don't think（〜とは思わない）

I should hardly think that he'd come to-night,

19世紀的な婉曲表現

古風な表現

beady of eye and rubicund of visage

字義: 目がビーズ状で顔が赤い

意味: 鋭い目つきで赤ら顔の

beady of eye and rubicund of visage

古風な倒置構文 'adjective + of + noun'

古風な表現

stood

字義: 立たせた

意味: 置いた、据えた

and stood a small copper kettle on the fire

standを他動詞として使う古い用法

古風な表現

doughty deeds

字義: 勇敢な行為

意味: 勇ましい行い、武勇伝

and spoke of wild scenes and doughty deeds; of wars and plagues and strange peoples.

doughtyは古風な語

古風な表現

Leastways

字義: 最小の方法で

意味: 少なくとも、とにかく（= at least）

Leastways nothing worth hearing.

古風な口語表現

古風な表現

is wont to

字義: 〜する習慣がある

意味: 〜しがちである、〜するものである

The soldier regarded him in the way that middle age is wont to regard presumptuous youth.

古風な表現、現代では使われない

古風な表現

betokened

字義: トークン（しるし）を与えた

意味: 示した、表していた

There was an air of prosaic wholesomeness about the room which it had lacked on the previous night, and the dirty, shrivelled little paw was pitched on the sideboard with a carelessness which betokened no great belief in its virtues.

betoken は古風な語で現代では indicate/show を使う

古風な表現

as her sex would permit

字義: 彼女の性別が許すように

意味: 女性として可能な限り（当時の性差別的表現で「女性は我慢強くない」という偏見を含む）

She then waited as patiently as her sex would permit, for him to broach his business, but he was at first strangely silent.

19世紀的な性差別的表現

古風な表現

interposed

字義: 間に位置した

意味: 口を挟んだ、割って入った

Her husband interposed.

やや古風な語で、現代では interrupted や interjected を使うことが多い

古風な表現

as he had been wont to do

字義: 彼がするのに慣れていたように

意味: かつてよくしていたように

He sat staring blankly out at the window, and taking his wife's hand between his own, pressed it as he had been wont to do in their old courting-days nearly forty years before.

be wont to do は古い表現で「習慣的に～する」という意味

古風な表現

long to weariness

字義: 疲労まで長い

意味: 疲れ果てるほど長い、うんざりするほど長い

Sometimes they hardly exchanged a word, for now they had nothing to talk about, and their days were long to weariness.

古風な語順と表現。現代では 'wearisome' や 'exhaustingly long' を使う

古風な表現

aghast

字義: 幽霊を見たような

意味: 愕然として、仰天して

"Good God, you are mad!" he cried, aghast.

古風な語彙。語源的に 'ghost' と関連

古風な表現

I would not tell you else

字義: 私はあなたに他に言わないだろう

意味: そうでなければ言わないところだが、普段なら言わないが

He has been dead ten days, and besides he—I would not tell you else, but—I could only recognize him by his clothing.

古風な語順と 'else' の用法

古風な表現

ere he could escape

字義: ere = before（古語）

意味: 彼が逃げられる前に

The talisman was in its place, and a horrible fear that the unspoken wish might bring his mutilated son before him ere he could escape from the room seized upon him, and he caught his breath as he found that he had lost the direction of the door.

'ere' は 'before' の古語形

古風な表現

His brow cold with sweat

字義: 彼の額は汗で冷たい

意味: 冷や汗をかいて

His brow cold with sweat, he felt his way round the table, and groped along the wall until he found himself in the small passage with the unwholesome thing in his hand.

古風な分詞構文と表現

古風な表現

seemed changed

字義: 変えられたように見えた

意味: 変わって見えた

Even his wife's face seemed changed as he entered the room.

現代では 'seemed to have changed' がより自然

古風な表現

to his fears

字義: 彼の恐怖に対して

意味: 彼の恐怖心には、彼が恐怖を感じていたので

It was white and expectant, and to his fears seemed to have an unnatural look upon it.

古風な言い回し。現代では 'in his fearful state' などを使う

古風な表現

flickering opposite

字義: 向かい側でちらつく

意味: 向かい側で明滅している

The street lamp flickering opposite shone on a quiet and deserted road.

oppositeを副詞として使う古風な語法（現代英語ではacross the streetなど）

連語

are let

字義: 許可されている

意味: 貸し出されている、賃貸に出されている

I suppose because only two houses in the road are let, they think it doesn't matter.

letが「賃貸する」の意味で使われている

連語

a knowing glance

字義: 知っている視線

意味: 意味ありげな視線、共謀するような目配せ

Mr. White looked up sharply, just in time to intercept a knowing glance between mother and son.

knowingが「意味ありげな」という慣用的意味

連語

banged to

字義: 〜に向かって叩きつけた

意味: （門が）バタンと閉まった

as the gate banged to loudly

bang toは「勢いよく閉まる」の意味

連語

condoling with

字義: 〜と悔やんでいる

意味: （悪天候などについて）同情を示している、慰めている

The old man rose with hospitable haste, and opening the door, was heard condoling with the new arrival.

文脈では天候についての社交辞令

連語

don't look to have taken much harm

字義: 多くの害を取ったように見えない

意味: あまり悪い影響を受けていないように見える

He don't look to have taken much harm,

take harmは「害を被る」

連語

had a spell put on it

字義: 呪文をそれの上に置かれた

意味: 呪いをかけられた、魔法をかけられた

It had a spell put on it by an old fakir,

have + object + past participleの使役構文

連語

caused mischief

字義: いたずらを引き起こした

意味: trouble or harm（トラブルや害を引き起こした）

It has caused enough mischief already.

mischief は軽いいたずらだけでなく、深刻な害も意味する

連語

eyeing him keenly

字義: 鋭く彼の目を見る

意味: watching him closely and intently（注意深く、意図的に見つめる）

If you could have another three wishes, said the old man, eyeing him keenly, would you have them?

keenly は感覚や観察の鋭さを表す副詞

連語

snatched it off

字義: それを引きはがした

意味: quickly grabbed it away from (the fire)（火から素早くつかみ取った）

White, with a slight cry, stooped down and snatched it off.

snatch off は「素早く取り去る」という慣用的な組み合わせ

連語

Pitch it on

字義: それを投げる

意味: throw it onto（それを～に投げ込む）

Pitch it on the fire again like a sensible man.

pitch は「放り投げる」という口語的表現

連語

in an enthralled fashion

字義: 魅了された様式で

意味: in a captivated manner（魅了された様子で）

the three sat listening in an enthralled fashion to a second instalment of the soldier's adventures

fashion は「様式、やり方」を意味する古風な用法

連語

eyed it dubiously

字義: 疑わしくそれを見た

意味: looked at it with doubt or suspicion（疑いや不信をもって見た）

Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously.

eye を動詞として使う慣用的表現

連語

shamefacedly

字義: 恥ずかしい顔で

意味: in an embarrassed or ashamed manner（恥ずかしそうに）

His father, smiling shamefacedly at his own credulity

shamefaced は古風な複合語

連語

marred by

字義: ～によって傷つけられた

意味: spoiled or diminished by（～によって台無しにされた）

somewhat marred by a wink at his mother

mar は「損なう」という文語的表現

連語

retire for the night

字義: 夜のために引退する

意味: go to bed（就寝する）

the old couple rose to retire for the night

retire は「寝る」という婉曲的・古風な表現

連語

felt on the table for

字義: テーブルの上で～のために感じた

意味: searched by touch on the table for（手探りでテーブルの上を探した）

It got so vivid that, with a little uneasy laugh, he felt on the table for a glass

feel for は「手探りで探す」という慣用的表現

連語

pitched on

字義: 投げられた（野球のように）

意味: 無造作に置かれた、投げ置かれた

There was an air of prosaic wholesomeness about the room which it had lacked on the previous night, and the dirty, shrivelled little paw was pitched on the sideboard with a carelessness which betokened no great belief in its virtues.

pitch は「投げる」だが、ここでは「放り投げて置く」という慣用的な使い方

連語

referring somewhat shortly to

字義: 短く言及する

意味: ぶっきらぼうに（不機嫌に）言及する

All of which did not prevent her from scurrying to the door at the postman's knock, nor prevent her from referring somewhat shortly to retired sergeant-majors of bibulous habits when she found that the post brought a tailor's bill.

shortly はここでは「短く」ではなく「無愛想に、そっけなく」

連語

in mental connection with

字義: ～と精神的につながって

意味: ～を心の中で関連付けて、～のことを思いながら

In mental connection with the two hundred pounds, she noticed that the stranger was well dressed, and wore a silk hat of glossy newness.

連語

flung it open

字義: それを開けて投げた

意味: 勢いよく開け放った

The fourth time he stood with his hand upon it, and then with sudden resolution flung it open and walked up the path.

fling open は「勢いよく開ける」という慣用的表現

連語

broach his business

字義: 彼の商売に穴を開ける

意味: 用件を切り出す

She then waited as patiently as her sex would permit, for him to broach his business, but he was at first strangely silent.

broach は「話題を切り出す」という意味の慣用表現

連語

eyed the other wistfully

字義: もう一方を物欲しそうに目で見た

意味: （実際には）不安そうに相手を見つめた

and he eyed the other wistfully.

wistfully は「物思いに沈んで、切なく」という意味で、文脈により解釈が必要

連語

carried into his first action

字義: 最初の行動の中に運んだ

意味: 初陣に臨んだ（軍事用語で first action = 初めての戦闘）

on the husband's face was a look such as his friend the sergeant might have carried into his first action.

action は軍事用語で「戦闘」、carry into は「～に臨む」という慣用表現

連語

in consideration of

字義: ～の考慮の中で

意味: ～を考慮して、～に鑑みて

They admit no liability at all, but in consideration of your son's services, they wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation.

法律・ビジネス文書でよく使われる表現

連語

put out his hands

字義: 手を外に出した

意味: 手を前に伸ばした、手探りした

Unconscious of his wife's shriek, the old man smiled faintly, put out his hands like a sightless man, and dropped, a senseless heap, to the floor.

put out は「伸ばす、差し出す」という意味の慣用表現

連語

lost the direction of

字義: ～の方向を失った

意味: ～がどこにあるか分からなくなった

The talisman was in its place, and a horrible fear that the unspoken wish might bring his mutilated son before him ere he could escape from the room seized upon him, and he caught his breath as he found that he had lost the direction of the door.

方向感覚の喪失を表す表現

連語

groped along

字義: 沿って手探りした

意味: ～に沿って手探りで進んだ

His brow cold with sweat, he felt his way round the table, and groped along the wall until he found himself in the small passage with the unwholesome thing in his hand.

grope は視覚なしで探す動作

連語

crept back to his bed

字義: ベッドへ這って戻った

意味: こっそりと静かにベッドに戻った

The old man, with an unspeakable sense of relief at the failure of the talisman, crept back to his bed, and a minute or two afterward the old woman came silently and apathetically beside him.

creepは「這う」だが、ここでは恐怖や疲労で静かにゆっくり移動する様子を表す

連語

the match went out

字義: マッチが外に出た

意味: マッチの火が消えた

At the foot of the stairs the match went out, and he paused to strike another; and at the same moment a knock, so quiet and stealthy as to be scarcely audible, sounded on the front door.

go outは「外出する」だが、火や明かりが消えることを表す頻出表現

連語

spilled in the passage

字義: 廊下にこぼれた

意味: 廊下に散乱した

The matches fell from his hand and spilled in the passage.

spillは液体だけでなく、小さな固形物が散らばることにも使われる

連語

in shaking tones

字義: 震える音で

意味: 震え声で

"A rat," said the old man in shaking tones—"a rat. It passed me on the stairs."

toneは「声の調子」を表し、shakingと組み合わせて恐怖による震え声を表現

連語

the thing outside

字義: 外にあるもの

意味: 外にいる正体不明の恐ろしいもの

If he could only find it before the thing outside got in.

thingを人に使うことで、正体不明の不気味さや恐怖を表現