続 今日の英語

はてなダイアリーで地味に続けていた「今日の英語」の続き。日常出会った気になる英語表現を、オンライン辞書の例文などとともにメモしています。

Either way, the balance of probability is the murderer has her phone.

(いずれにせよ、殺人犯が彼女の電話を持っている見込みが強い。)
 BBCドラマ「シャーロック」エピソード1 "A Study in Pink" より。殺された女性の携帯電話はどこへ消えたのか…?という会話をするホームズとワトスン。(この台詞はskullのくだりの直前くらい。また前後してしまった…。)

  • balance という単語は「つりあい、均衡」だけでなく、「優勢、優位」という意味も持つ。一語で「つりあい」と、片方に偏った「優勢」と、両方の意味をカバーしているのが面白い。the balance of evidence/probability/advantage etc... といった形で使われる。(the most likely answer or result produced by opposing information, reasons etc/(considering) the evidence on both sides of an argument, to find the most likely reason for or result of something/ the majority of information, opinions, or facts)
    • The balance of evidence suggests the Liberal party's decline began before the First World War.
    • The balance of public opinion was against the proposal.
    • The balance of opinion was that work was important.
    • The balance of advantage lies with you.
    • The balance of probability is on this side.
    • Therefore I had to determine where Mr. John Douglas himself could be, and the balance of probability was that with the connivance of his wife and his friend he was concealed in a house which had such conveniences for a fugitive, and awaiting quieter times when he could make his final escape. (SHシリーズ「恐怖の谷」より)※determine:明らかにする ※connivance:黙認 ※fugitive:逃亡者

(DVDはリージョン違いなのでご注意を!)