back-to-back
back-to-back は英検1級レベルの英単語で、「連続した、立て続けの、背中合わせの」という意味があります。発音記号は /ˌbæk tə ˈbæk/ です。
意味一覧 (2件)
連続した、立て続けの
解説 Definition
back-to-back は、二つ以上の出来事がほとんど間を空けずに続けて行われることを表す語。試合、会議、公演、出張などの予定が連続して組まれている場面でよく使われ、休みなく相次ぐという響きがある。
Back-to-back means happening one after another with no break in between. It is used for events, meetings, games, or similar activities that are consecutive. The phrase often suggests a busy schedule or repeated success.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
back-to-back のこの意味は、予定や出来事がすぐ続くことを表す形容詞として覚える。back が二つ並ぶ形から、二つの予定が間を空けずぴったり接しているイメージを作るとよい。back-to-back meetings, back-to-back games, back-to-back wins のように、会議・試合・勝利など数えられる出来事とよく結びつく。基本義の「背中合わせの」とは別に、時間の並びを表す用法として整理する。
Picture two things so close that their backs are touching. That makes back-to-back easy to remember as events with no gap between them. It is very common in phrases like back-to-back meetings, back-to-back games, or back-to-back wins.
例文
They played back-to-back games over the weekend.
彼らは週末に連戦をこなした。
The band had back-to-back concerts in the same city.
そのバンドは同じ都市で立て続けに公演を行った。
She had back-to-back meetings all afternoon.
彼女は午後ずっと会議が立て続けに入っていた。
背中合わせの
(意味 2)解説 Definition
二人や二つの物が、互いに反対方向を向き、背中側どうしが接するように並んでいる状態を表す。人の座り方や椅子・家屋の配置など、空間的な位置関係を具体的に述べるときに使う。時間的に連続するという意味とは別なので区別が必要。
Back-to-back describes two people or things that are positioned with their backs touching or facing in opposite directions. It is often used for physical arrangements, such as how people sit or stand, or how chairs, houses, or other objects are placed. In this sense, it explains a clear spatial relationship. This is different from the separate meaning of back-to-back that means happening one after another in time.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
back が2回出る形なので、予定どうしの背中がくっついていて、間にすき間がないと覚えると残りやすい。試合・会議・出張・授業などが back-to-back なら、one after another より、予定表で連続配置されている感じが強い。back-to-back meetings, back-to-back games, back-to-back wins が頻出。文脈によっては文字通り「背中合わせの」の意味にもなるので、その点だけ注意。
Notice that back appears twice in back-to-back. Imagine the backs of two plans or events touching with no space between them, like items placed tightly next to each other on a schedule. That is why back-to-back often appears in phrases like back-to-back meetings, games, or wins, but in some contexts it still keeps the literal meaning of "with backs touching."
例文
The two chairs were placed back-to-back in the middle of the room.
部屋の中央に二脚の椅子が背中合わせに置かれていた。
The children sat back-to-back on the floor and read their books quietly.
子どもたちは床に背中合わせに座って静かに本を読んでいた。
The old houses were built back-to-back along the narrow street.
その古い家々は細い通りに沿って背中合わせに建てられていた。
back-to-back の語源・成り立ち Etymology
back（背中）を合わせた姿勢が原義。二人が背中合わせに立つ→間を空けず隣接→「連続して」の意味に発展。英語の複合表現で、backは古英語bæcに由来。関連語：back up（支援する）、setback（後退）。隙間なく背中がくっつく様子から途切れない連続を表す。
Back-to-back is an English compound built from back, from Old English baec. Its literal meaning was two people or things with their backs touching. From the idea of being directly joined with no space between, it developed the sense of something happening one after another without a break. The image of close contact helped create the idea of continuity.
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