思う存分
解説 Definition
十分に満足するまで、できるだけ多くの時間や力を使って何かをすることを表す表現。時間や労力を惜しまないで、目の前の経験や仕事を全力で味わう／遂行するイメージ。
This means completely or as much as possible. It is used when someone uses all of something or enjoys or experiences something without holding back. The phrase has a slightly formal tone.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
full＝「いっぱいの、満ちた」を知っていれば、to the full は「満杯になるところまで」→「思う存分」とつながる。特に enjoy life to the full, live life to the full, use one's abilities to the full の形で覚えると使い所が見えやすい。fully が単に「完全に」なのに対し、こちらは時間・力・経験を余さず使う響きが強い。to the fullest も近いので、まずは full を核にまとめて覚える。
Think of "full" as completely filled. "To the full" gives the image of using something until nothing is left unused. It often goes with life, ability, or experience: "live life to the full," "use your abilities to the full."
例文
Enjoy your vacation to the full; you earned it.
休暇を心ゆくまで楽しんでください。あなたはそのために頑張った。
He lived every day to the full despite his busy schedule.
忙しい日々でも彼は毎日を精一杯生きた。
to the full の類義語・関連語
to the full の語源・成り立ち Etymology
fullは古英語「full（満ちた）」で、ゲルマン祖語fullazに遡る。to the fullは「満杯の状態まで」が原義で、転じて「余すところなく、存分に」の意。関連語: fulfill, plenty（ラテン語plenus、同じ印欧語根pele-から）。
Full comes from Old English full, from an old Germanic root meaning "filled." Related English words include fulfill, which keeps the same idea of making something full or complete. So to the full originally meant "up to a full amount," and later came to mean completely or as much as possible.
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