thaw

解ける、解凍する

温まって氷が解けたり冷凍食品が柔らかくなったりする。また、そうさせる。

やさしい英語で： To become warmer so that ice melts or frozen food becomes soft.

• The snow began to thaw.
• I thawed the chicken in the fridge.
• Has the ground thawed enough to dig?

使い方： thaw out (Leave the frozen bread to thaw out.)

類義語： defrost, melt

反対語： freeze

よく使う表現： thaw out, thaw frozen food, thaw in something, begin to thaw

打ち解ける、和らぐ

冷たい態度や怒りが薄れ、人と気楽に接するようになる。

やさしい英語で： To become less unfriendly or angry and begin to feel more relaxed with others.

• He thawed when she smiled.
• Her anger slowly thawed during their conversation.
• After a few jokes, our host began to thaw.

使い方： thaw towards someone (She gradually thawed towards her new neighbours.)

類義語： soften, warm up

よく使う表現： begin to thaw, thaw towards someone, finally thaw

雪解け、融雪

気温が上がり、雪や氷が解け始める時期。

やさしい英語で： A period of warmer weather when ice and snow start to melt.

• The thaw began in March.
• A sudden thaw caused the river to rise.
• We expect another thaw before winter ends.

類義語： melting

反対語： freeze

よく使う表現： spring thaw, sudden thaw, winter thaw

関係改善、雪解け

怒りや対立、冷たい態度が続いた後で関係がよくなること。

やさしい英語で： An improvement in a relationship after a period of anger, disagreement, or unfriendly behaviour.

• Their meeting led to a thaw.
• A thaw in relations allowed trade to resume.
• The sisters' letters suggested a thaw between them.

使い方： a thaw in something (The visit brought a thaw in relations.); a thaw between A and B (There was a thaw between the two former rivals.)

類義語： warming, rapprochement

よく使う表現： thaw in relations, diplomatic thaw, thaw between countries