言いくるめる
解説 Definition
「wheedle」は甘い言葉やお世辞で相手を説き伏せる動詞で、頼みごとを聞いてほしいときに多用されます。軽いニュアンスながら、相手を不自然に持ち上げるため、親しい間柄でも「wheedle someone into ～」の形でよく出ます。
To wheedle means to try to get something from someone by using gentle, flattering, or persuasive words. It often suggests that the speaker is being a little clever or manipulative rather than fully direct. The word is usually used in a slightly negative way.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
wheedle は「論理で persuade する」より、「お世辞・機嫌取り」で相手を動かす語。flatter と近く、coax よりも“口のうまさ”が前面に出ると覚えると区別しやすい。頼みごとや情報を引き出す場面で使われ、wheedle someone into doing, wheedle money/information out of someone が定番。「押す」のではなく、甘い言葉で少しずつ相手をその気にさせる動詞、という場面ごと記憶すると残る。
Remember that wheedle is not calm logical persuasion. It is closer to flattering, coaxing, or using sweet words to get something. Useful patterns are "wheedle someone into doing something" and "wheedle information out of someone."
例文
He tried to wheedle his parents into extending his curfew by praising their cooking.
彼は両親の料理を褒めて、門限を延ばしてもらおうとうまく丸め込もうとした。
She wheedled the editor into giving her extra pages by complimenting the magazine's design.
彼女は雑誌のデザインを持ち上げて編集者からページを追加してもらった。
wheedle の類義語・関連語
紛らわしい語
wheedle の語源・成り立ち Etymology
語源は不確かですが、古英語wǣdlian「物乞いする」説や、独語wedeln「尾を振る」説があります。へつらって頼みを通すイメージから、「甘い言葉で言いくるめる」の意味になりました。関連語はadulation、wheedlingです。
Wheedle has an uncertain origin. It may be connected with Old English wǣdlian, "to beg," or with German wedeln, "to wag," as with a flattering, tail-wagging manner. In either case, the word developed toward the idea of getting what you want by smooth, coaxing talk. The noun wheedling was formed later from it.
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