backbone

背骨、脊柱

人や動物の背中の中央に沿って並ぶ、つながった骨。

やさしい英語で： The line of connected bones down the middle of a person's or animal's back.

• Fish have a backbone.
• The fall damaged his backbone.
• Which animals have no backbone?

類義語： spine, spinal column

よく使う表現： broken backbone, animal backbone, backbone injury

屋台骨、中核

物事を支え、強さやよい働きを保たせる最も重要な部分。

やさしい英語で： The most important part that supports something and keeps it strong or working well.

• Volunteers are the backbone of this club.
• Railways once formed the backbone of trade.
• These cables provide the network's backbone.

使い方： the backbone of something (Small farms are the backbone of the local economy.)

類義語： mainstay, foundation, core

よく使う表現： backbone of something, economic backbone, network backbone, transport backbone

気骨、勇気

困難でも自分を守り、正しいと信じることを行う勇気や強い意志。

やさしい英語で： The courage to defend yourself or do what you believe is right, even when it is difficult.

• Show some backbone!
• He lacked the backbone to say no.
• Our new leader has plenty of backbone.

使い方： have the backbone to do something (She had the backbone to challenge the decision.)

類義語： courage, resolve, strength

反対語： cowardice

よく使う表現： show some backbone, have some backbone, lack backbone, have backbone