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2006.09.19(Review of 2004.09.29 edition)

Hello, and welcome back from the three-day weekend!

Introducing our readers to useful and interesting expressions is the WordMaster's bread and butter, and this week's expressions should provide you with plenty of food for thought. As for our theme - well, we won't spill the beans just yet. Instead, we'll give you a couple of days to chew it over first.

Now, here comes the first course!

Today's LessonCATEGORY: イディオム
IN A NUTSHELL   要するに

Explanation

  • To “put something in a nutshell” is to say it simply and directly, using very few words.

    Origin of in a nutshell:
    just as a nut is very small, when you summarize something in a few words, we say “in a nutshell”.
  • in a nutshell は、短い言葉で、簡潔かつ直接に何かを言う、という意味です。

    木の実はとても小さいものです。nutshell (木の実の殻)におさまるようにまとめる、という意味がこの言葉の由来とされています。

examples

  1. Marketing can be many things, but in a nutshell, it is the business of getting people to buy a product.
  2. a: I'm afraid I still don't understand what it is you're trying to tell me.
    b: Sorry, this isn't easy for me to say, Jack. ... To put it in a nutshell, we have to let you go.
  3. My point, in a nutshell, is this: You get what you pay for.
  4. I'm rather busy at the moment. Can you just give it to me (= tell me) in a nutshell?

英会話レッスンHungry for more? Then join us again tomorrow!