peck

つつく、ついばむ

鳥がくちばしで物を突いたり、少しずつつまみ取ったりする。

やさしい英語で： If a bird does this, it hits or picks at something with its beak.

• The hens peck at seeds.
• A bird pecked my finger.
• The woodpecker was pecking a hole in the tree.

使い方： peck at something (The pigeons pecked at crumbs on the pavement.)

よく使う表現： peck at seeds, peck the ground, peck something open

少しずつ取り組む

途中で休みを挟みながら、少しずつ物事を進める。

やさしい英語で： To do something a little at a time, with pauses between attempts.

• He pecked away at his essay.
• She pecks at the keyboard with two fingers.
• We have been pecking away at this project for months.

使い方： peck away at something (I pecked away at the report whenever I had a spare moment.)

類義語： chip away, work intermittently

よく使う表現： peck away, peck at something, peck away at something

ペック

穀物などを測る古い単位。八クォート、約九リットルに相当する。

やさしい英語で： An old unit for measuring dry goods, equal to eight quarts or about nine liters.

• We bought a peck of apples.
• Four pecks make a bushel.
• The old recipe calls for half a peck of potatoes.

使い方： a peck of something (The farmer sold me a peck of apples.)

よく使う表現： peck of apples, peck of grain, half a peck

大量、山ほど

非常に多い量。特に厄介事などについて使う。

やさしい英語で： A very large amount of something, especially trouble.

• That boy causes a peck of trouble.
• The children brought a peck of dirt into the house.
• She had a whole peck of worries that winter.

使い方： a peck of something (That careless remark brought him a peck of trouble.)

類義語： lot, heap, great deal

よく使う表現： peck of trouble, peck of dirt