upstage
意味一覧 (2件)
出し抜く
解説 Definition
他人より目立つ行動をして注目を奪うこと。また、舞台の奥側を指す演劇用語。
To upstage someone means to attract more attention than they do, so they seem less important. It is often used in theater, entertainment, and social situations. The word can suggest doing this on purpose, but not always.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
このエントリでは upstage を「人を食う」という基本義ではなく、相手をうまく出し抜いて優位に立つ意味として覚えます。stage「舞台」の語感から、同じ場にいる相手の立ち位置をずらし、自分が有利な位置を取るイメージです。beat は単に勝つ、outwit は知恵でだます感じですが、この用法の upstage は相手より一枚上手に振る舞う、やや比喩的で珍しい言い方です。
Use the image of a `stage`. If one person upstages another, they take all the attention and make the other person seem less important. Think of `upstage a rival` or `upstage everyone`. It is not just winning; it is stealing the spotlight.
例文
The younger actress completely upstaged the lead performer with her stunning improvisation.
若い女優が見事な即興演技で主演俳優を完全に出し抜いた。
He always tries to upstage his colleagues during important meetings.
彼は重要な会議でいつも同僚より目立とうとする。
The surprise announcement by the CEO upstaged all other news that day.
CEOの突然の発表がその日の他のニュースをすべてかすませた。
人を食う
(意味 2)解説 Definition
人や出来事が、他の人より強く注目を集めて相手を目立たなくすること。舞台・映画・会議・発表などで、主役や本来注目される人の存在感を奪う場面によく使います。
If a person or event upstages someone, it gets more attention and makes the other person seem less important. It is often used when someone takes the spotlight from the main speaker, performer, or event. The word is common in situations like theater, film, meetings, and presentations, where people are sharing the same scene or moment.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
upstage は stage「舞台」と一緒に覚えると自然です。舞台で誰かが強い演技や派手な動きで観客の視線を集め、主役まで目立たなくしてしまう場面が出発点です。upstage someone, upstage the main event の形で「相手・本題を食う」と押さえましょう。outshine は単に輝きで勝る感じですが、upstage は同じ場の注目を奪うニュアンスが強い語です。
Think of stage when you learn upstage. Imagine someone on stage using strong acting or flashy movement to pull everyone's eyes away from the main person. Remember patterns like upstage someone or upstage the main event to feel the idea of stealing attention in the same scene. Unlike outshine, upstage strongly suggests taking the spotlight from another person or thing nearby.
例文
Her funny comments upstaged the main speaker during the presentation.
彼女の面白い発言がプレゼンで主役の話し手を食ってしまった。
The surprise announcement completely upstaged the rest of the meeting.
その突然の発表が会議の他の話題を完全に食ってしまった。
He tried not to upstage the bride and groom at the wedding.
彼は結婚式で新郎新婦を食わないように気をつけた。
upstage の語源・成り立ち Etymology
upstage は up「奥へ」+ stage「舞台」から生まれた演劇語です。stage は古フランス語を経てラテン語 stare「立つ」に連なり、もとは舞台の奥に立って相手を目立たなくすることから「出し抜く」になりました。関連語は stage、state です。
Upstage began as a theater term from up and stage. Stage came through Old French from Latin stare, meaning "to stand." In traditional theater language, moving upstage meant moving toward the back of the stage, sometimes making another actor less noticeable, and this led to the later meaning "to outshine" or "steal attention from" someone.
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