blithering
まったくの、ひどい
解説 Definition
blithering は主に否定的な名詞の前で、程度を強めて「まったくの」「ひどい」と言う形容詞です。特に blithering idiot のように、人や失敗を強くけなすくだけた表現で使われます。
Blithering is an informal adjective used to make a negative noun stronger, meaning something like complete or utter. It is often used in phrases such as blithering idiot to insult someone strongly or to describe something as extremely bad or foolish. In this use, it usually appears before nouns like idiot, mess, or waste. The word can also mean silly or confused, but here its main role is to add strong negative force.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
blithering は単独で「ひどい」と訳すより、後ろの名詞を強く悪く言う働きに注目すると覚えやすい。complete や utter が a complete idiot, utter nonsense のように「まったくの」を表すのと近い位置づけです。ただし blithering はくだけた強い非難語で、ほめ言葉には使いません。同じ語には「ばかげた、支離滅裂な」という意味もありますが、この基本義では主に idiot, mess, waste などを強める副次的な形容詞として見るとよい。
It is easier to remember blithering by focusing on its job before a noun, not by translating it alone. Think of it like complete or utter in phrases such as a complete idiot or utter nonsense, but with a more informal and insulting tone. It is used to make negative words sound even stronger, not to praise anything. The word can also mean silly or confused, but this basic use is mainly about strongly attacking the noun that follows.
例文
He called me a blithering idiot for forgetting the tickets.
チケットを忘れたことで、彼は私をまったくのばかだと言った。
What a blithering mess this project has become.
この企画はひどいめちゃくちゃな状態になってしまった。
I can't believe we spent all that money on such a blithering waste of time.
あんなひどい時間のむだに、あれだけお金を使ったなんて信じられない。
ばかげた、支離滅裂な
(意味 2)解説 Definition
ばかげていて筋が通らず、聞いたり読んだりするとあきれるような様子を表す形容詞。人、発言、言い訳、苦情などを強くけなして、「支離滅裂な」「とんでもない」という気持ちを込めるときに使う。
Blithering means extremely foolish, silly, or confused in a way that makes no sense. It is often used to criticize someone's speech or ideas, especially when they sound wild or stupid. The word is fairly strong and often appears in informal or emotional language.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
blithering は、blather「くだらないことをべらべら話す」と結びつけると覚えやすい形容詞です。話や考えがだらだら出てくるだけで筋が通らず、聞き手があきれるほどばかげている、という強い悪口の響きがあります。blithering nonsense, blithering excuse, blithering complaint のように、発言・言い訳・苦情が nonsensical や incoherent だと批判する場面に合います。
Connect blithering with blather, which means talking too much in a foolish way. Blithering suggests words or ideas spilling out until they sound confused and ridiculous. It fits phrases like blithering nonsense, a blithering excuse, or a blithering complaint.
例文
That was a blithering excuse, and nobody believed it.
それはばかげた言い訳で、誰も信じなかった。
He sounded like a blithering fool during the interview.
面接での彼は支離滅裂な大ばか者のように聞こえた。
Please ignore their blithering complaints and focus on the facts.
彼らのばかげた苦情は無視して、事実に集中してください。
blithering の語源・成り立ち Etymology
blithering は blither「くだらないことをべらべら話す」に -ing が付いた形。blither は blather/blether と同系で、だらだら話す語感から強い悪口にも広がりました。
Blithering comes from blither, meaning to talk foolishly or at length, with the ending -ing added. Blither is related to words like blather and blether. The idea of silly, rambling talk later developed into a strong insulting word.
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