throw caution to the wind
意味一覧 (2件)
思い切ってやる
解説 Definition
危険や失敗の可能性を承知のうえで、迷わず大胆に行動するという意味です。転職、告白、投資、勝負どころの決断など、普段なら慎重になる場面で一歩踏み出すときに使います。
To throw caution to the wind means to stop being careful and do something boldly, even though there may be risk or a chance of failure. It is often used when someone makes a big decision, such as changing jobs, confessing their feelings, investing money, or taking an important chance. The expression suggests that the desire to act becomes stronger than the wish to stay safe.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
throw は「投げる」、caution は「用心」、wind は「風」なので、直訳の絵は「用心を風へ投げる」です。ただしこの基本義では日本語の「用心を投げ捨てる」という直訳調より、「思い切ってやる」と行動面で覚えるのが自然です。play it safe「安全策を取る」の反対で、成功したい、変えたい、試したい気持ちが慎重さを上回る場面に出ます。
Picture the words literally: you throw your caution away into the wind. That image helps you remember that you stop being careful and choose action instead. In real use, it often feels more natural to remember it as "go for it boldly" rather than the more literal idea of "throwing away caution." It is the opposite of play safe.
例文
She decided to throw caution to the wind and start her own business.
彼女は思い切ってやることにして、自分の会社を始めた。
At some point, you have to throw caution to the wind and tell him how you really feel.
どこかで思い切ってやって、本当の気持ちを彼に伝えないといけない。
The team threw caution to the wind in the final minutes and attacked with everything they had.
チームは最後の数分で思い切ってやり、全力で攻めた。
用心を投げ捨てる
(意味 2)解説 Definition
慎重さや用心深さを捨てて、大胆に行動すること。リスクを顧みずに突き進む。
To throw caution to the wind means to stop being careful and act in a bold or risky way. It is used when someone ignores possible danger or negative results and does what they want anyway.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
このエントリは throw caution to the wind の「思い切ってやる」という基本義とは別に、語の絵をそのまま表した「用心を投げ捨てる」という直訳寄りの理解を覚えるためのものです。throw は手元から離す動き、caution は警戒心、wind は戻ってこない風。つまり慎重さを持ち続けず、風にさらっていかせる場面を思い浮かべると、文字通りの比喩が残ります。
Take the words literally: throw your caution away into the wind. That picture makes the phrase easy to keep in mind. It is the opposite of "play it safe," and it suggests acting boldly even when there is risk.
例文
She threw caution to the wind and quit her stable job to travel the world.
彼女は用心を投げ捨てて、安定した仕事を辞めて世界を旅した。
He threw caution to the wind and invested all his savings in the risky startup.
彼は慎重さを捨てて、リスクの高いスタートアップに貯金をすべて投資した。
The team threw caution to the wind in the final minutes, attacking relentlessly to try to score.
チームは残り数分で慎重さを捨て、得点を狙って猛攻を仕掛けた。
throw caution to the wind の語源・成り立ち Etymology
caution はラテン語 cautio「用心」、cavere「気をつける」に由来します。用心を wind「風」へ投げる比喩から、慎重さを手放して大胆に動く意味になりました。
The key word caution comes from Latin cautio, meaning "care" or "warning," from cavere, "to be careful." In this idiom, the image is of throwing your carefulness into the wind, so the meaning developed into acting boldly and letting go of caution.
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