☆ネイティブの生の会話からリアルな英語を学ぶ☆
　
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1) Downer（場を盛り下げる人・がっかりする話）
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downerはdownから成り立った表現で、場を盛り下げる人や気分や雰囲気が落ち込むような話、気の滅入るような出来事を指します。この表現は、場を盛り下げる人の意味で使われることが多く、そのような人をDebbie Downerと呼びます。Debbie Downerはアメリカの有名なテレビ番組のキャラクターの名前に由来する表現で、みんなが楽しんでいる場で常にネガティブなことを言うような人を指します。“Don’t be a Debbie Downer.”は「場を盛り下げないでよ」という意味になり、ネガティブなことばかり言って場をしらけさせるような人に対してよく使われます。
　
＜例文＞
　
Why would he say something like that? He’s such a downer.
（彼は何であんなことを言うんだろう？彼って本当に場をしらけさせるよね。）
　
Don’t be a Debbie Downer. Just relax and have fun.
（ネガティブなことばかり言って場を盛り下げないでよ。リラックスして楽しんで。）
　
I hate to be a downer but I think we should get going. It’s getting late.
（場をしらけさせて悪いんだけど、遅くなってきたからそろそろ帰ったほうがいいと思う。）
　
　
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2) Miss（休む）
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missは状況によって様々な意味を持つ単語ですが、今日の会話ではクラスや仕事、ミーティングやイベントなどを休んだり、欠席したりすることを意味します。一般的にはサボって休むのではなく、病気や何かしらの理由で欠席する状況で使われます。
　
＜例文＞
　
I’ve never missed a day of work.
（私は仕事を1日も休んだことがありません。）
　
I had to miss class today because I had a doctor’s appointment.
（病院の予約が入っていたので、今日は授業を休まなければなりませんでした。）
　
I’m sorry I missed your performance. How did it go?
（君のパフォーマンスを見に行けなくてごめん。どうだった？）
　
　
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3) Stand up for oneself（自分のために立ち上がる）
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直訳で「自分のために立つ」となるこの表現は、相手から批判されたり、悪口を言われたり、または何かを押し付けられた時に、自分の意見や見解をしっかりと主張することを意味します。例えば、“Stand up for yourself.”は「毅然とした態度を取りなさい」、“Thanks for standing up for me.”は「私をかばってくれてありがとう」、“Stand up for what you think is right.”は「正しいと思うことのために立ち上がりなさい」といった意味になります。
　
＜例文＞
　
Stop being a pushover and stand up for yourself.
（人の言いなりになるのはやめて、毅然とした態度を取りなさい。）
　
Thanks for having my back and standing up for me.
（私の味方をしてかばってくれてありがとう。）
　
You have to stand up for what you think is right.
（自分が正しいと思うことはしっかりと主張しないと。）
　
　
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4) What’s the word?（何て言うんだっけ？）
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“What’s the word?”は言いたい言葉がパッと思い浮かばない時に使われる表現で、日本語の「なんて言うんだっけ？」に相当します。例えば、今日学んだフレーズ、「場を盛り下げる人」の単語がパッと思い浮かばない時に、“What’s the word? Oh yeah, Debbie Downer.”のように言います。その他、「あの場所の名前は何だっけ？」は“What’s the name of that place?”、「あの人の名前は何だっけ？」は“What’s his name?”と言い、ここでは“What was ____?”のように過去形にしてもOKです。
　
＜例文＞
　
A few weeks ago, I learned a new word for a small party. What’s the word? Oh yeah, kickback.
（数週間前に、小さなパーティーを意味する新しい単語を覚えました。なんて言う単語だっけ？あ、kickbackだ。）
　
What was the name of the steakhouse we went to last week? Was it Fleming’s?
（先週行ったステーキ専門店の名前は何だったっけ？フレミングスだっけ？）
　
What’s the word for「マフラー」in English again? Oh yea, scarf!
（マフラーって英語でなんて言うんだっけ？ そうだ、scarfだ！）
　
　
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5) Power through（何とかやりぬく）
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power throughは、困難な状況でも諦めずに最後までやり通すことを意味します。どれだけ嫌なことや辛いことであろうと、根性と負けん気で何とかして成し遂げる状況で使われます。
　
＜例文＞
　
Don’t give up. You’re almost done. Power through it.
（諦めないで。もうすぐで終わりだよ。最後までやり抜いて。）
　
I’m exhausted but I have to power through it and finish the project.
（すごく疲れていますが、何とかしてプロジェクトを終わらせないといけません。）
　
She’s mentally tough. She can power through anything.
（彼女はメンタルが強い人なので、何でもやり通すことができます。）
　
　
　　　
　　
　　
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本日ご紹介したフレーズは、iTunes Japanの「ベストポッドキャスト」に2017から4年連続選出されたHapa英会話の人気コンテンツPodcast第343回「大学時代の最悪な思い出」の内容の一部です。Podcastの全内容をご覧になりたい方は、Hapa英会話のブログをチェック！会話の全文、会話の要約、ピックアップしたフレーズ、ポッドキャストでは説明できなかった表現や言い回しが掲載されています。
　
https://hapaeikaiwa.com/podcast343
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God’s spoken word can be a blessing or a sword. It depends on the intent and the intensity.

If it is spoken gently, it is nourishing like rain that waters the earth:

“For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth, and makes it grow and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do.” (Isaiah‬ ‭55:10-11‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

If it is spoken with the intent to execute His enemies, it is destructive like fire, a hammer or a flood:

““Isn’t my word like fire?” says Yahweh; “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah‬ ‭23:29‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

His words of Gospel truths in our mouths are spiritual weapons, mighty for the destruction of Satanic strongholds.

God is no pushover—at Jesus’ Second Coming, at the end of the Great Tribulation, the Lord will destroy the Antichrist and his wicked armies with the sword from His mouth (His spoken word).

“The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh.” (Revelation‬ ‭19:21‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

At appointed times, God gives you His rhema word which is a sword to destroy your spiritual enemies, hindrances and obstacles.

This is one of the weapons we have in Christ, but there are many more such as the blood of Christ, the anointing oil, the word of your testimony, praying in tongues, fasting, the Holy Communion, the whole armor of God, etc. It also helps to know the enemy’s tactics so you can stay one step ahead.

Become trained in spiritual warfare and always emerge victorious against the ancient serpent who hates you: https://bit.ly/silencing-the-serpent

And she loved a little boy very, very much - even more than she loved herself...👩‍👦

Happy 9th Birthday to my pre-tween Elma 🎂
I don’t know how this happen and where all the other birthdays went 😭 and I can’t imagine getting through life without being a mom to you because this purpose is the driving force that gets me up throughout the years. It’s been hard it’s been beautiful and it makes me reevaluate my life with a job I've loved the most ever since u arrived.
I can’t put into words how proud I am to be your mom. You are the kindest and most compassionate boy but also no pushover and you always know what you want 🏆

Over the years as I made it there for you, you’ve also been there for me always. Thank you for choosing me and even trying to take care of me. This year is definitely different but still very special and I hope you’ve had the best birthday weekend. I pray that you will always be happy, healthy and good boy. Mummy love you so much.

🔸Yearly Birthday Outfits from FILA Singapore ❤️

#ElmaCardenChin #Elmaturns9

Allen Iverson finally shook his shadow and shook up the NBA Finals.

Hounded by unheralded Tyronn Lue, Iverson scored seven of his 48 points in a one-minute span of overtime as the Philadelphia 76ers stunned the Los Angeles Lakers with a 107-101 victory in the opener of the NBA Finals.

Iverson scored 30 points in a scintillating first half, letting everyone know that the 76ers were going to be more than another pushover for the powerful Lakers. His late flurry silenced the Staples Center and unceremoniously ended Los Angeles' run at a perfect postseason.

"Anybody that bet on it, some broke people out there," Iverson said. "I'm glad nobody didn't bet their life on it 'cause they definitely would be dead right now."

Instead, the Sixers -- double-digit underdogs -- are very much alive as they again displayed their heroic heart.

"Our guys just try hard," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "This is kind of unexpected but it's neat."

In between Iverson outbursts, Lue stymied the NBA Most Valuable Player for nearly 20 minutes, using his quickness to prevent Iverson from even getting the ball, let alone shoot it. He had spent the last two practices impersonating Iverson and apparently got pretty good at it.

"I just try to deny him the ball as much as possible, because when he does get the ball, the best penetrator in the game is going to be hard to stop," Lue said. "We were trying to keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible."

"He was holding me the whole time," Iverson said.

But the third-year reserve let his guard down for just a second and it cost the Lakers. Iverson's two free throws pulled the Sixers within 99-98 with 1:46 remaining and the Lakers called a timeout.

Lue drove and threw up a wild shot as he fell out of bounds. The Sixers rebounded and Iverson ran out in transition. With Lue nowhere in sight, he drilled a 3-pointer that gave Philadelphia the lead for good at 101-99 with 1:19 left.

"That was really the knife that wounded us," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

Rick Fox spoiled a solid game by throwing away a pass and Iverson made a step-back baseline jumper for a 103-99 lead with 47 seconds to go.

Kobe Bryant, who shot poorly and could not defend Iverson, hit a baseline jumper with 33 seconds to play. But Eric Snow, whose runner late in the fourth quarter saved the Sixers, made a similar shot to seal it with 10 seconds left.

On the eve of his 26th birthday, Iverson made 18-of-41 shots and 9-of-9 free throws, adding six assists and five steals. Playing his first NBA Finals game, his explosion offset 44 points and 20 rebounds by Shaquille O'Neal as he won the duel between the league's last two MVPs.

The Lakers rallied from a 15-point third-quarter deficit only to blow a five-point overtime lead as they lost for the first time since April 1, a span of 20 games. They had come into this series as huge favorites, having romped through the postseason with 11 straight wins by an average of more than 15 points.

"I'm kind of relieved it's over in some ways but but it does put some pressure on us to get a win on our home court," Jackson said. "We've got to go out on Friday night and find a way to get this series tied up."

The Sixers came in with no one expecting them to win a game, let alone the series. But they used their trademark toughness to do in just one game what the weak knees of the Western Conference could not do in 11 -- beat the Lakers.

"They thought we were gonna get swept and that was like a slap in the face to us," Iverson said.

Game Two is Friday at Los Angeles. Philadelphia is trying to knock off the defending champions and win its first title in 18 years.

"Now it's a series," O'Neal said.

However, Philadelphia may have to try a little harder. Guard Aaron McKie, who did a superb job of defending Bryant, suffered a chip fracture of his right ankle but is probable for Friday.

Both Iverson and O'Neal abused a series of defenders. Iverson sent starter Derek Fisher to a permanent seat on the bench and also had his way with Bryant before Lue came on.

"You can't take anything away from Tyronn Lue," Iverson admitted. "A lot of guys go out against a player that's named MVP of the regular season and won't give it his all, act like he's scared. But he gave his team a great lift."

O'Neal met some resistance from Mutombo but manhandled Matt Geiger and Todd MacCulloch at the end of the third quarter. He made 17-of-28 shots but just 10-of-22 from the line.

Most of O'Neal's offense came against single coverage from Dikembe Mutombo, who sat down with foul trouble for most of the third quarter but still contributed 13 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks.

His presence allowed Philadelphia to swarm to Bryant, who had an awful game with just 15 points, on 7-of-22 shooting, and six turnovers.

"They got into Kobe's body, and bodied him on the dribble, stripped the ball when he picked it up," Jackson said. "He really didn't clear himself for shots very easily tonight."

Snow scored 13 points and injury-hampered Matt Geiger provided an unexpected 10 for the Sixers, who shot 48 percent (40-of-83) and missed just two of 25 free throws, which came at the worst possible time.

O'Neal's dunk off a feed from Bryant with 1:57 left in the fourth quarter gave the Lakers a 94-92 lead, their first since midway through the second period.

Snow answered with his first running jumper and the Sixers had a chance to take the lead when Mutombo rebounded a miss by Snow and was fouled with 34 seconds to go. But he missed both after Philadelphia had hit its first 19 from the line.

Bryant and Snow missed, sending it to overtime, where it looked like the Lakers were ready to win. O'Neal threw in a hook, Bryant spun for a layup and O'Neal split a pair from the line for a 99-94 lead.

The Sixers looked dead when Raja Bell found himself trapped in the lane with the shot clock running down. But he pivoted and threw in a scoop shot with his left hand with 2:19 remaining, sparking the comeback.

Fox scored 19 points for the Lakers, who were playing for the first time in 10 days and shot 44 percent (40-of-90).

At the start, it looked like another Lakers landslide. A 16-0 burst capped by Bryant's first basket gave Los Angeles an 18-5 lead with 5 1/2 minutes to go -- and perhaps allowed complacency to set in.

"We watched games that they played when they jumped out on guys and guys just packed it in and stopped playing," Iverson said. "But we've been like that before. We've been in games where we started off slow and ended up winning."

Iverson scored 10 points in the rest of the period, then opened the second quarter with a jumper over Bryant for a 24-23 lead.

The Lakers still held a 38-36 lead midway through the second quarter when Jackson was hit with a technical foul for arguing a non-call against Mutombo.

Iverson made the foul shot, Geiger hit two jumpers to give the Sixers the lead at 41-40 and Iverson took over from there as he scored Philadelphia's last 15 points of the half, mostly off his trademark crossover dribble.

His 3-pointer gave the Sixers a 56-48 advantage before O'Neal hammered home a miss by Bryant in the final second.

At intermission, Iverson had 30 points on 11-of-24 shooting, lighting up Bryant, who was 2-of-10 for four points with five turnovers.

"Allen really stepped it up," Brown said. "His first half was about as good as it gets."

It continued in the third quarter, as Iverson fed Jumaine Jones for an alley-oop slam, sank a jumper and dropped a layup over O'Neal for a 64-54 lead. He took a steal in for a layup and hit a fading corner shot before Eric Snow's three-point play gave the Sixers their largest lead at 73-58 with 5:23 left.

But with Mutombo on the bench, Philadelphia could not fight off O'Neal, who overpowered Geiger and MacCulloch and muscled Los Angeles back into it. He scored 14 points in the final 5:10 of the period, and with Lue shadowing Iverson, the Lakers pulled within 79-77 entering the final period.

Philadelphia led by as many as seven points early in the fourth quarter, when Mutombo picked up his fifth foul and again sat down before returning less than a minute later as Geiger fouled out.