Night has an age?

I really need to update this more often, even if it's with only one or two phrases per post...

The night's still young.
まだ宵の口じゃないか。

Comment:
Used when you're going to a party or club or anything really late at night. It means that much of the night's still remaining, and apparently night isn't a time for sleeping...

Words better off not being needed

Man I really need to find the time to post more often. This is getting lame. Not a very cheerful blog post since I'm not all that cheerful right now.

stressed out
ストレスで参らせる

Example:
I've been so stressed out since getting that mail.
あのメールが来たから大分ストレスで参らしてる。

Comment:
And I consider myself to have a really high stress tolerance too...

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guilt trip
(n)罪悪感
(v)罪悪感を抱かせる。

Example:
My parents have been guilt tripping me over going to that party last night.
昨日の晩のパーティーに行ったから、親がずっと罪悪感を抱かせやがってる。

Comment:
By the time someone finishes up high school in the US, they've probably been guilt tripped so much it loses effect on them. In fact, it's probably considered a rather immature way of scolding someone.

Useful

Short update in between paper-preparation busyness. Deadlines suck...

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come in handy
役に立つ

Example:
This looks like it could come in handy.
これは役に立てそう。

Comment:
Maybe this phrase will come in handy someday.

Let's do it

I'm down.
I'm game.
Sounds good.
Count me in.
I'm up for that.

いいね。
行こうか。
俺も入れといて。
それはやりたいな。

Comment:
All of these mean you want to do it. So if a friend asks you if you want to go somewhere or do something, you could answer with any one of them if you're interested.

Similarity of People

follow in someone's footsteps
足跡をたどる

Example:
She's following in her brother's footsteps by getting into Osaka University.
阪大に入学できて、彼はお兄さんの足跡をたどってる。

Comment:
People probably don't really like being told they're following in someone's footsteps since they want to be living life their own way.

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a chip off the old block
お父さんにそっくり

Example:
He's a chip off the old block.
彼はお父さんのそっくりやね。

Comment:
There are no gender words in the English, but I think it is indeed true that this saying is pretty much exclusively used for males.

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Like father like son.
蛙の子は蛙。

Comment:
This isn't all that true. I'm probably nothing like my father (at least, I hope so...).

Short

concise
簡潔

Example:
His presentation was very concise and to the point.
彼の発表は要点を押さえて簡潔やった。

Comment:
This has a positive image.

----

brief
短い

Example:
His explanation was very brief.
彼の説明は短かった。

Comment:
This is fairly neutral, though it might be slightly negative depending on the situation.

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terse
簡明

Example:
He grunted out a terse reply.
簡明な返事を言い出した。

Comment:
This has a negative image.

To Specialize or not to Specialize

one-trick pony
一つしか才能のない人

Example:
That boss is a one-trick pony. Just avoid its fire breath and you can't lose.
あのボスキャラは1つの攻撃しかないよ。あの火吐きを避けたら、負けられへん。

Comment:
This word has a negative image, I think. Also, no good translation for this showed up on ALC. Is there any Japanese expression for someone who is only good at one thing?

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jack of all trades, master of none
多芸は無芸。

Example:
You can't beat experts if you're just a jack of all trades, master of none.
多芸でも無芸ならエキスパートより勝てないで。

Comment:
It's sort of hard to translate since the Japanese is a saying, but the English is a noun that describes someone. Just "jack of all trades" probably has a positive image, but if you add master of none, then it becomes negative.



I guess I strive to be a master of all trades (except art...).

Competing

go for the gold
成功のために全力を尽くす (less translation, more explanation...)

Comment:
This probably originates from the Olympics, where getting gold means winning, but it is used generally to mean trying hard to win.

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If you can't beat them, join them.
長いものには巻かれろ。

Comment:
No point trying to win something you can't win.

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give it one's all
全力を尽くす

Example:
Obama gave it his all to win the Democratic nomination.
オバマは民主党の大統領候補指名のため全力を尽くした。

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sweet victory
胸のすく勝利

Example:
Winning that long match was a very sweet victory.
あんな長い試合を勝ったのは胸のすく勝利やったな。

Fire

fire up an engine
エンジンをかける

Example:
The racers fired up their engines as they waited for the gunshot.
発砲に待ちながら、レーサーはエンジンをかけた。

Comment:
I think fire up can probably also be used when starting up things other than an engine. Being fired up also means being excited as was written in a previous post.

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fight fire with fire
毒をもって毒を制す。

Comment:
This phrase is used when dealing with a problem by using the same thing in response.

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add fuel to the fire
火に油を注ぐ

Example:
Don't provoke him. There's no need to add more fuel to the fire.
あいつを挑発するな。さらに火に油を注ぐ意味がないよ。

Comment:
This phrase is used to refer to making an already bad situation worse.

Borrowing

cover
つける

Can you cover dinner? I'll pay you back later.
飯はつけてくれる？後で返すし。

Comment:
This is used when going out with friends and you realize you have no money and need a friend to pay for you.

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tab
つけ

Put it on my tab.
つけにしておいてくれ。

Comment:
This is used when you need the store to cover you. The store might have a running total of how much money you have "put on your tab" which you would pay back later. I think this might be more common in small rural towns in the US - most normal people don't do this but you'll see it in movies a lot.

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owe
借りがある

I owe my friend $20.
友達に２０ドルの借りがある。

----

I owe you one.
恩に着るよ。

Comment:
This is used when you are really thankful for something. It doesn't actually mean you will repay them anything, it's just an expression of thanks in normal usage.

----

Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
借り手にも貸し手にもなるな。

Comment:
I think this phrase is pretty stupid. I don't think there's any problem with borrowing when you have to and forming debt that you repay since it helps form bonds.

Separation

Went to Karuizawa and back and have been busy for a bit. Time for a new post!

parting is such sweet sorrow
別れはとてもつらいことだ。

Comment:
This line was actually created by Shakespeare. I'll need to find a Japanese translation of the original work sometime in the library I think this ALC translation isn't very good. It misses the meaning of sweet which has a good meaning.

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I'll miss you.
君がいなくなったら寂しくなるよ。

Comment:
I really wish Japanese had a better way of saying this. I'll miss you, while usable in such a serious way, is also often used in a more light-hearted way. Am I weird for feeling a little embarrassed by saying the Japanese?

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bon voyage
（旅に行く人へ）いってらっしゃい

Comment:
French, but it's pretty standard in English too.

----

Have a safe trip.
気をつけて行ってきてね。

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Have fun!
楽しんできてね!

Laundry

laundry
洗濯

Example:
I'm going to do the laundry today so I have clothes to take to the conference.
学会に持っていく服を用意するため、洗濯をやる。

----

laundry
洗濯物

Example:
I need to hang the laundry while the sun's still up.
陽が出ているうちに洗濯物をほさないと。

----

colors
色の服(?)

whites
白い服(?)

Example:
I usually wash colors and whites separately.
色の服と白い服を普段で別々で回す。

----

detergent
洗剤

Example:
I always choose the detergent with the rainbow since it will protect my colors.
色の服を守るから、いつも虹が乗ってる洗剤を選んどく。

----

bleach
漂白剤

Example:
If you don't use bleach, whites just aren't as white.
漂白剤を使わんと、白い服の白さが落ちちゃう。

Lots of people

crowd, throng
群衆

Example:
A crowd gathered around the apparently-famous runner.
あのどうやら有名らしいランナーの周りに群衆が集まってきた。

Comment:
Throng is a less-used word, but it means the exact same thing.

----

packed
混んでる

Example:
The streets were packed with people watching the fireworks show.
道は花火大会を見てる人で混んでた。

----

jam-packed
すし詰めの

Example:
The trains were jam-packed on the way home. It sucked.
帰り電車はすし詰めてた。最悪だった。

"Off"

put off
延ばす

Example:
I've been putting off writing that novel for too long.
小説を書くのを延ばしすぎてる。

----

slack off
だらける

Example:
I slacked off all day yesterday and didn't get anything done.
昨日だらけたばっかりで、何もできなかった。

Comment:
I slack off too much....

----

show off
見せびらかす

Example:
He's always showing off that beamer of his.
あいつはいつもあのBMWを見せびらかしてるな。

----

knock off
複製品

Example:
That painting's just a knock-off; it's not worth a cent.
あの絵はただな複製品やで、一円の価値もない。

Comment:
Knock off can be used as a verb as well in the same context.

----

kick off
始める

Example:
We're going to kick off the trip with a visit to the amusement park.
旅行を遊園地に行って始めるぞ。

Comment:
This probably originates from soccer or American football where the game starts with a kick-off of the ball.

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go off on
怒りをぶつける

Example:
My boss really went off on me yesterday when I gave him my report.
昨日、報告したら、部長のやつはホンマに怒りをぶつけたな。

Some Slang

These aren't really bad words, just some relatively common slang phrases. Some of them might sound foolish if used with a professor.

pumped
興奮してる

Example:
Are you pumped about the concert tomorrow?
明日のコンサートを興奮してるかい？

----

wasted
よっぱらった

Example:
I got seriously wasted last night at the party.
昨日のパーティーでまじよっぱらったな。

----

pooped
疲れた

Example:
Man I'm pooped after carrying all those things.
ハッ、あんなものを運んで疲れた。

----

wicked
凄い

Example:
That car can fly? Wicked!
あの車が飛べるの？凄い！

Comment:
I might not have gotten the usage for this word correctly, since it's more common among British than Americans.

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pissed
怒ってる

Example:
He got so pissed when I threw that egg at him.
俺はあの卵を投げたから、あいつ本間に怒ったぞ。

Busy

swamped
多忙極まりない

Example:
I'm having trouble keeping up the blog since I'm swamped with work.
最近あまりにも忙しすぎて、ブログの更新には追いかけられてない。

Comment:
Swamped can be used in other situations when you are completely covered by something, but it's most often used with work.

----

busy bee
とても忙しい人

Example:
He was a busy bee the entire day, so cut him some slack.
彼は一日中めちゃ忙しかったよ、だからちょっと勘弁してください。

Comment:
I guess bees are considered busy animals.

"Make"

make a killing
大もうけする

Example:
My friend's making a killing on oil futures.
石油先物で友達が大もうけしてるよ。

----

make ends meet
生活の収支を合わせる

Example:
He's having trouble making ends meet in this economy.
彼はこの経済の中で、生活の収支をいまいち合わせられてないな。

----

make a monkey out of
笑いものにする

Example:
It hurts when you make a monkey out of me like that.
あれみたいに俺を笑いものにすると痛いよ。

----

make one's day
嬉しくする

Example:
Thanks a lot, this really makes my day!
ありがとうわ、今日は本当についてるよ。<-ALC 日本語

Literary Terms

比喩
simile/metaphor

simile
直喩

Example:
Hercules is as strong as a thousand lions.

metaphor
隠喩

Example:
Life is but a dream.

Comment:
Metaphors and similes are both describing A by comparing to B, however simile uses the words "like" or "as", while metaphor assigns B to A directly using something like the word "is". Metaphors can be considered stronger as a result and are very hard to create skillfully. By the way, these are probably the number one most important part of writing good English literature.

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symbol
象徴

Example:
The pig's head in Lord of the Flies is a symbol of the devil.

Comment:
Respected English literature tends to be full of symbols because they add depth to the work while requiring the reader to actually think while going through the book.

----

personification
擬人化

Example:
The wind howled through the night.

Comment:
Personification is giving human/animal like traits to inanimate objects. So in the above example, wind is given a wolf's trait of howling. This can add some flavor to describing inanimate objects.

----

alliteration
頭韻

Example:
The trio of tired travelers.

Comment:
This is the repetition of the starting sound of a series of words. This isn't quite as common, but it can add an interesting tone to a written line.

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theme
主題

Comment:
The most important part of writing good literature, the work becomes exponentially more interesting if it deals with interesting themes. Books are studied for centuries because they offer complex analysis of basic themes that are relevant forever.

Some Onomotopeias - 擬音語

bang
銃の音

----

thump thump
どきどき
心臓の音

----

boom
爆発の音

----

whoosh
風の音

----

creak
古いドアの音

----

ding-dong
玄関のベルの音

----

ring ring
電話の音

----

buzz
蜂の音

Having Fun

have the time of one's life
めちゃめちゃ楽しく過ごす

Example:
Yesterday on the mountain slope, I had the time of my life.
昨日の山はすごく楽しかった。

Comment:
An extremely high level fun. Probably most often used for a first-time activity that someone has never experienced before.

----

have a blast
すごく楽しく過ごす

Example:
I had a blast at the concert last night.
昨日のコンサートは凄く楽しかったよ。

Comment:
A very high level fun. Probably most often used for an energetic activity.

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have a swell time
けっこう楽しく過ごす

Example:
I had a swell time at your uncle's.
君のおじさんの所に結構楽しかった。

Comment:
A medium fun. Probably most often used when you expect not to have fun, but the activity turns out to be fun.

----

have a good time
楽しく過ごす

Example:
I had a good time; let's do this again sometime.
楽しかったわ。またいつかやろう。

Comment:
A low fun. Probably most often used for a relaxing activity.

----

enjoy
楽しく過ごす

Example:
I enjoyed the movie tonight.
あの映画が楽しかった。

Comment:
A normal fun. But you probably knew that already.

Not getting things done

ぼんやりする
goof off

Example:
「あんたのために働いてるのよ。なのに、ぼんやりして！」
"It's for your sake that I'm working so hard. And yet, here you are just goofing around!"
少女には向かない職業
桜庭 一樹

Comment:
I found this line in the book I'm reading, which gave me the idea for this blog post. So this time rather than English to Japanese, I've done a Japanese to English example. Since this is literature, my translation is actually fairly loose, so don't take it as a word-for-word translation. And is it correct to italicize book titles in Japanese? (when writing correct English, you have to)

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be lazy
怠ける

Example:
I need to stop being lazy and start getting some work done.
もう、怠けるのを止めて、ちゃんと作業しないとな。

Comment:
I'm still not sure what the best word for lazy is as an adjective. 怠惰なdoesn't seem very natural, nor does 不精, but then again, what would I know.

----

kill time
時間をつぶす

Example:
I killed some time at the arcade this afternoon.
昼はゲーセンにちょっと時間をつぶした。

Comment:
I'm always lacking in ways to kill time on weekends.

----

hang around
のんびりする

Example:
I just hung around the house all yesterday.
昨日、家にずっとのんびりした。

Comment:
I don't know if this is a very good English translation; the meaning isn't so accurate, but the feeling probably is.

----

ぼーとする
space out

This doesn't show up in ALC, so I won't make an example just in case I'm completely off the mark (wrong) with this one.

Money

cash
現金

Example:
I've got no cash on me; can I use credit?
今現金持ってない、カードでもいい？

----

paycheck
給料

Example:
I get my paycheck on Saturday.
土曜日に給料をもらう。

Comment:
Paycheck actually means the check (小切手) that one receives their money as, but many people will use paycheck to mean the money rather than the slip of paper. By the way, in the United States, it is very rare to be paid in cash; it is most common to be paid by check, and possibly direct-deposit into a bank account if you work at a bigger company.

----

loaded
お金持ち

Example:
I just got my paycheck yesterday so I'm loaded right now.
昨日給料をもらったばっかやから、今はお金持ちや。

----

dirt poor
めちゃ貧乏

Example:
I am dirt poor now after buying that BMW.
あのBMWを買ったからめちゃ貧乏になった。

Horses

straight from the horse's mouth
直接本人から

Example:
I got it straight from the horse's mouth.
直接、本人から聞いたよ。

Comment:
Apparently this saying originates from horse-races. Usually, the people who tend to the horse can give the most accurate guess of which horse will win, and getting information straight from the horse's mouth is even more direct than that.

----

dark horse
穴馬的/ダークホース

Example:
I don't really get that dark-horse candidate.
あの穴馬的なダークホースの選手、よく分からんな。

Comment:
I was surprised to see this as katakana in the dictionary. Is it fairly normal to know this idiom?

----

Hold your horses!
ちょっと待て！

Comment:
When someone is very excited about starting something, you might say this. Also originates from horse-racing, probably.

----

beat a dead horse
無駄に繰り返す

Example:
Trying to get the professor to buy a new HMD is like beating a dead horse.
先生に新しいＨＭＤを買ってもらおうとしても無駄やで。

Comment:
Because no matter how hard you beat a dead horse, it won't move.

----

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
贈り物にけちをつけるな。

Comment:
I do believe in this myself as well.

A Visit to the Zoo

giraffe
キリン



----

rhinoceros (rhino)
サイ



----

rattlesnake
ガラガラヘビ



----

camel
ラクダ



----

swan
ハクチョウ



----

badger
アライグマ



----

hedgehog
ハリネズミ



----

black panther
クロヒョウ




----

monarch butterfly
オオカバマダラ 　（チョウやけど…）

Some Programming Terms

Probably already know all of these but just in case...

declaration
宣言

Example:
int x;

----

definition
定義

Example
x = 4;

----

inheritance
継承

Example
class Triangle : Shape

----

(memory) allocation
(メモリ) 割り当て

Example:
malloc(4);

----

(memory) deallocation
(メモリ) 割り当ての解放

Example:
free(ptr);

----

structure
構造体

Example:
struct Point{
int x, y, z;
}

----

instantiation
インスタンス化

Example:
new Triangle();

----

executable file
実行ファイル

Example:
a.out

----

argument
引数

Example:
foo(a)のa

----

parameter
Also 引数？

Comment:
While Japanese people probably understand the English just fine, non-Japanese people do not understand the Japanese unfortunately...

Sleeping and Waking up

early to bed early to rise
早寝早起き

----

early bird/late bird
早起きの人/遅起きの人

----

sleep like a log
死んだように眠る

Comment:
This expression has a positive meaning I think.

----

Rise and shine!
朝だ起きなさい！

Up = 上?

think up
考え出す

Example:
I'm trying to think up a good idea for the festival.
祭りのいいアイディアを考え出そうとしてる。

----

put up
泊める

Example:
Do you think you could put me up for the night?
今夜泊めてもらえるかしら。

----

shut up
黙る

Example:
Could you please just shut up for a while?
もう、ちょっと黙ってくれないか？

----

put up
揚げる

Example:
Put up or shut up!
行動で示すか、それができないんなら黙ってろ！

----

screw up
大失敗する

Example:
Crap, I screwed up the last problem on that test!
くそっ、試験の最後の問題をしくじちゃった！

----

fire up
駆り立てる

Example:
I got fired up after hearing the crowd cheer.
群れの応援を聞いて、鼓舞した。

----

stir up
巻き起こす、醸す

Example:
That kid's always stirring up trouble.
あのガキはいつももめ事を起こしてる。

----

give up
諦める

Example:
I gave up on it already.
もう、諦めた。

----

back up
裏付ける

Example:
That's pretty hard to accept. Do you have anything to back it up?
それは中々納得できない。何か裏付けがあるか？

----

Comment:
Up is used a lot following a simple verb, and I think it can be pretty hard to understand since it's more or less used idiomatically. I suppose the best generalization might be that up signifies a change of state somehow, but even that doesn't hold in every case.

Working really hard

pull an all-nighter
徹夜する

Example:
I ended up pulling an all-nighter before the test, but I think it paid off.
あの試験の前日、徹夜しちゃったけど多分功を奏したと思う。

Comment:
I had only pulled one all-nighter before coming to Japan, since when I've pulled several. I probably never needed to before since I never studied for tests...

----

all work and no play
仕事ばかりで遊びのない

Example:
You need to get out some more. All work and no play, you know.
君はもっと外に出た方がいいよ。仕事ばかりで遊びのないって。

Comment:
It's pretty hard to use this phrase in a real conversation. I think what usually happens is "all work and no play" is used as a contraction for the saying "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy", or in other words you shouldn't spend all your time working. Unfortunately, that is what I have been doing lately...

----

work like a dog
こき使われる

Example:
My damn boss had me working like a dog for the past week. Man, I'm beat.
今週俺、部長のやつにずっとこき使われてさ。

Comment:
Working like a dog has a negative image (after all, I don't think anyone wants to be compared to a dog).

Winning and Losing

winner-takes-all
勝者独り占めの

Example:
That poker tournament is winner-takes-all.
あれは勝者独り占めのポーカー試合やで。

----

have what takes
素質がある

Example:
Do you have what it takes to win?
勝つため素質があるか？

----

sore loser
負けず嫌い

Example:
That guy's a sore loser, isn't he?
あいつ負けず嫌いやな。

Comment:
Used for someone that always gets upset when losing (it's never any fun playing games with them).

----

be down in the dumps
落ち込んでる

Example:
He's been down in the dumps ever since he lost that match.
彼はあの試合を負けたからずっと落ち込んでいるね。

Comment:
Dumps in this case might mean something like 汚い場所, but it's probably not all that related.

Dessert

Some of these probably exist in Japan too, others probably don't.

If you're in the lab and want to try one of these, let me know and I'll gather ingredients and make it for you.

Brownie



Delicious and pretty common

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Fudge



Sort of like brownies, but softer and richer.

----

Cookies



Well cookies they obviously have in Japan, but what about M&M cookies?!

----

Cupcake



Cupcakes are in the same class as brownies (very standard dessert snack).

----

Hershey's Kiss



Just a normal chocolate, but interesting shape and interesting name.

----

Roasted Marshmallows



Popular when camping, set up a campfire and roast marshmallows to golden-brown deliciousness.

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Smore


Take a roasted marshmallow, put it in between two graham crackers and chocolate, and have a tasty treat. Substitute microwave for campfire if at home.

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Pumpkin Cake



Popular during Halloween (due to it's pumpkin-ness)

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Cherry Ice Cream



Popular during Summer when the cherries are especially fresh and delicious.

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Banana Split



Only item on this list I've never had. It's an old-fashioned dish, and you would probably see it in movies set in the 1960-70s (Grease, etc). Looks really rich...

The Politics of Guns

Supreme Court
最高裁判所

ban
禁止令

unconstitutional
憲法違反

right to bear arms
銃砲所持の権利

militia
民兵

right-wing (the right)
右翼 (右翼の奴ら)

NRA (National Rifle Association)
全米ライフル協会

gun control law
銃規制法

overturn
撤廃する

Example:
In a 5-4 decision, the American Supreme Court declared the handgun ban in Washington DC unconstitutional.
5対4の判定の上、アメリカの最高裁判所はワシントンの拳銃禁止令が憲法違反だとの判断を下ろした。

Comment:
The right to bear arms was written into the US Constitution over two hundred years ago to allow unofficial militia to protect the country in the absence of police. Now that we have police, we don't need guns, but the idiots on the right just don't give up. Of course, now the NRA is rushing to get every other gun control law in the country overturned...

Pennies

A penny for your thoughts?
君が何を考えてるの？

Comment:
There was one time someone here was just staring into space as if they were thinking about something. If I knew a good way to say this in Japanese, I would have said it - though I probably should have just said it in English anyways.

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A penny saved is a penny earned.
ちりも積もれば山となる。

Comment:
But what can that penny earned buy you?

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pretty penny
かなりな金額 (またかい)

Example:
That Porsche must have cost a pretty penny.
あのポルシェはかなり高かっただろう。

Comment:
It's not a beautiful penny, just an expensive penny...

Succeeding

Third time's the charm.
三度目の正直

Example:
I tried beating my old TOEIC score twice now but I still haven't been able to do it. This time I'll do it though - after all, third time's the charm!

昔のTOEICの点数を二回も越えようとしたけど、まだ出来てへん。でもこんどこそ越えてやるよ、三度目の正直やで。

Comment:
This is a pretty common phrase, though I'm not sure what its origin is. Logically speaking, there's no reason the third time should be particularly effective...

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If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
最初は成功しなくても、何度も試してみなさい。←アルク日本語かな

Comment:
A saying that says that if you keep on working at something, you will achieve it eventually. A heartwarming saying, though you also should know your limits, and maybe...

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Quit while you're ahead.
有利なうちに、やめる。
痛い目を見る前にやめる。

Comment:
No point risking what you've got, or wasting time getting more than you need.

Introduction

I'll be writing short English lessons on this blog, focusing on English idioms and other such information you won't find easily in a class textbook.