in play

働いている、作用している

現在働いている、使われている、または出来事に影響を与えられる状態。

やさしい英語で： Currently active, being used, or able to affect what happens.

• The ball is still in play.
• Several forces were in play during the negotiations.
• Are all these options still in play?

使い方： be in play (Several different factors are in play here.); keep something in play (The team managed to keep the ball in play.)

類義語： active, operative, in effect

反対語： inactive

よく使う表現： still in play, remain in play, options in play

インプレーの、選択肢に入っている

ゲームの規則上まだ使える、または選択肢としてまだ考えられる状態。

やさしい英語で： Something can still be used in a game or considered as a possible choice.

• The ball is still in play.
• Several possible solutions remain in play.
• The referee kept the ball in play.

類義語： available

反対語： unavailable

よく使う表現： ball in play, keep in play, still in play

接戦の

複数の政党や候補者に現実的な勝ち目がある選挙を表す。

やさしい英語で： More than one political party or candidate has a real chance of winning.

• This seat is in play.
• Recent polls put three more states in play.
• Will the district be in play next year?

類義語： competitive, up for grabs

よく使う表現： state in play, seat in play, remain in play

買収対象になっている

別の会社や投資家に買収される可能性がある会社を表す。

やさしい英語で： A company may be bought by another company or investor.

• The company is in play.
• A surprise offer put the business in play.
• Investors believe the bank is now in play.

類義語： up for sale

よく使う表現： company in play, put in play, now in play

冗談で、ふざけて

本気ではなく、冗談や遊びとして。

やさしい英語で： As a joke or for fun, without serious intentions.

• I said it in play.
• She teased him in play, and he laughed.
• His remark was made in play, but it upset her.

類義語： in jest, jokingly, playfully

反対語： seriously

よく使う表現： said in play, only in play, spoken in play