拍車をかける
解説 Definition
spurring は spur（拍車をかける、促す）の現在分詞・動名詞です。物事を刺激して進ませることや、変化・行動を引き起こすことを表します。
Spurring is the -ing form of spur and denotes causing an activity, development, or person to move forward or act more quickly. It can function as a participle in a verb phrase or as a gerund naming the act of providing such encouragement or stimulation.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
原形 spur「拍車で馬を進ませる」に -ing を付けた形で、語末の r を重ねて spurring となります。発音は /ˈspɜːrɪŋ/。馬を前へ出す具体像から、spurring investment、spurring companies to hire のように、投資・行動・議論を刺激して進める場面へ広げて覚えます。
Start with the noun spur, the small pointed device used to urge a horse forward. The verb developed from that physical image: to spur something is to stimulate it into action or faster progress. For spurring, add -ing and double the final r because spur has a stressed vowel followed by one final consonant. Hear it as /ˈspɜːrɪŋ/. Useful patterns include “spurring investment,” “spurring growth,” and “spurring companies to hire.” These combinations keep the central picture intact: some force or event is making another process move ahead.
例文
The new policy is spurring investment in clean energy.
新しい政策がクリーンエネルギーへの投資に拍車をかけています。
Rising demand is spurring companies to hire more workers.
需要の高まりが、企業の追加採用を促しています。
The report is spurring a wider debate about public transport.
その報告書が公共交通をめぐるより広い議論を促しています。
spurring の類義語・関連語
spurring の語源・成り立ち Etymology
spurring は spur「拍車」+ -ing で、spur は古英語 spura「馬を進ませる拍車」に由来します。馬の脇を軽く刺して前へ出させるイメージから、「刺激して促す」「拍車をかける」という意味になりました。関連語は spur, spurred です。
Spurring is formed from spur plus the suffix -ing, with the final r doubled under the usual English spelling rule. Spur comes from Old English spura or spora, referring to the pointed device worn by a rider to urge a horse forward. The physical action produced the verb meaning “to urge on,” which later broadened to encouraging growth, action, discussion, or change. The -ing form can serve either as a present participle or as a gerund.
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