意味一覧 (2件)
後ずさりする、ひるむ
解説 Definition
恐怖・嫌悪・強い驚きで、触れそうになったものから反射的に身を引く動詞。体の後ずさりだけでなく、発言・案・記憶などに対して心理的にひるむ場面にも使う。物理的な「反動」の感覚が、人の反応へ広がった語。
To recoil means to pull your body back suddenly because of fear, disgust, or shock. It can describe a physical movement away from something you almost touch, but it is also used for a mental reaction when someone strongly shrinks back from an idea, comment, or memory. The word often suggests both backward movement and a feeling of refusal at the same time.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
recoil は「近づいた瞬間、体や心が後ろへ戻る」と覚える。recoil from a snake は蛇から身を引く、recoil at the smell はにおいに顔をそむける感じ。flinch は一瞬びくっとする動き、shrink は怖くて小さく縮こまる感じが中心。recoil は対象から離れる方向と拒絶感が同時に出る。
Think of recoil as "going back the moment something gets too close." You can recoil from a snake with your body, or recoil at a bad smell by turning away in disgust. Flinch is a quick little jerk, and shrink often suggests becoming smaller with fear, but recoil clearly adds movement away from the thing and a strong feeling of rejection.
例文
She recoiled from the snake when it moved near her foot.
足元で蛇が動いたとき、彼女は思わず後ずさりした。
He recoiled at the smell coming from the old refrigerator.
古い冷蔵庫からのにおいに、彼は顔をしかめてひるんだ。
Many readers recoiled from the article's violent details.
その記事の生々しい描写に、多くの読者がひるんだ。
反動
(意味 2)解説 Definition
銃・砲・機械などが力を放った直後に受ける、後ろ向きの跳ね返りや衝撃を指す名詞。特に firearm の扱い、設計、制御の文脈で出やすい。比喩では強い出来事のあとに生じる反発や身を引く反応も表す。
Recoil is the sudden backward movement caused by a shot or strong force, especially in a gun. It can also mean a quick movement away because of fear, shock, or dislike. The word is used both in physical and emotional contexts.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
名詞では、銃を撃った瞬間に肩へ返ってくる「ドン」という後ろ向きの力を中心に覚える。heavy recoil, low recoil, absorb recoil, manage recoil のように、反動の大きさや抑え方と結びつきやすい。kickback も似るが口語的で、不正な見返りの意味にも広がる。recoil はより技術的・物理的な反動に向く。
Split it into `re-` and `coil`. A coil can spring back, so `recoil` gives the image of something suddenly moving backward after force. Start with `gun recoil`, then extend it to a person pulling back in shock or disgust.
例文
The recoil from the gunshot pushed him backward.
発砲の反動で彼は後ろによろめいた。
The rifle has very little recoil.
そのライフルは反動がとても少ない。
He adjusted his grip to control the recoil.
彼は反動を抑えるために握り方を調整した。
recoil の語源・成り立ち Etymology
古フランス語 reculer「後ろへ下がる」に由来。re-「後ろへ」と、後部を表す語に関係し、元は体や物が後方へ引く動きを表した。
Recoil comes from Old French reculer, meaning "to move back." It is related to re-, meaning "back," and a word linked to the rear or back part. At first it described a physical movement backward, and later it came to describe a person's emotional reaction as well.
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