an uphill battle
困難な戦い
解説 Definition
成功が困難で多大な努力を要する戦いや取り組みのこと。不利な状況での挑戦。
"An uphill battle" means a difficult struggle that requires a lot of effort to succeed. It is used when the situation is against you and progress is hard. The phrase suggests that success is possible, but not easy.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
まず uphill を「上り坂の」として押さえると覚えやすいです。平地ではなく坂を上りながら進むので、前進しても楽に勝てない感じが自然に出ます。battle が付くと、単なる problem よりも「努力して戦う課題」という響きになります。It’s an uphill battle to ... の形で、勝てないとは言い切らないが、かなり不利で骨が折れる状況を表す、と覚えると定着します。
Start with `uphill`: moving uphill is slower and harder than moving on flat ground. Add `battle`, and the phrase becomes a struggle that needs effort and patience. `An uphill battle` often appears before `to ...`, showing something is possible but very difficult.
例文
Getting approval for the new policy has been an uphill battle from the very beginning.
新しい方針の承認を得ることは、最初から困難な戦いだった。
For small businesses, competing with major corporations is always an uphill battle.
中小企業にとって、大企業と競争することは常に困難な戦いである。
She faced an uphill battle to recover from her injury, but her determination never wavered.
彼女は怪我からの回復という困難な戦いに直面したが、その決意は揺らがなかった。
an uphill battle の類義語・関連語
類義語
an uphill battle の語源・成り立ち Etymology
uphillはup+hill、hillは古英語hyll、battleは古フランス語batailleを経てラテン語系にさかのぼります。battlefieldやbattalionと縁があり、坂を上がりながら戦う不利な像が、そのまま「困難だが進むしかない戦い」を伝えます。
"Uphill" is made from "up" and "hill," with "hill" coming from Old English "hyll." "Battle" came into English through Old French "bataille," from a Latin root connected with fighting. The phrase uses the image of fighting while moving uphill, which suggests a hard and unequal struggle. Related English words include "battlefield" and "battalion."
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