drift

漂う、流される

自力ではなく、空気や水の流れに運ばれてゆっくり動く。

やさしい英語で： To move slowly, carried by air or water rather than by your own power.

• Clouds drift across the sky.
• Our boat drifted towards the rocks.
• A piece of wood was drifting along the river.

使い方： drift towards/away from something (The boat drifted away from the shore.); drift across/along something (Smoke drifted across the field.)

類義語： float

よく使う表現： drift away, drift across something, drift towards something

ゆっくり落ちる、舞い落ちる

空中をゆっくり動きながら地面へ落ちる。

やさしい英語で： To move slowly down through the air towards the ground.

• Snowflakes drift down from the sky.
• A yellow leaf drifted gently to the ground.
• We watched the feathers drifting down around us.

使い方： drift down to something (The feather drifted down to the grass.)

類義語： float down, descend

反対語： rise

よく使う表現： drift down, drift to earth, drift downwards

ドリフトする

車を横滑りさせ、その滑りを操りながらカーブを曲がる。

やさしい英語で： To drive a car around a bend while controlling its sideways slide.

• She can drift a car safely.
• The driver drifted around the final bend.
• They practise drifting on a closed racing track.

類義語： powerslide

よく使う表現： drift a car, drift around corners

吹きだまり

風や水によって集められた雪や砂などの山。

やさしい英語で： A pile of snow, sand, or other material collected together by wind or water.

• A deep drift blocked the road.
• The wind left drifts of sand against the wall.
• We dug a path through the snow drifts.

使い方： a drift of something (A drift of snow covered the steps.)

類義語： pile, bank, heap

よく使う表現： a snow drift, a sand drift, drift of snow

漸進的な変化、変動

時間とともに少しずつ起こる、意図されていないことも多い変化。

やさしい英語で： A slow change that builds up over time, often without anyone planning it.

• We noticed a slow drift in public opinion.
• Genetic drift can change small animal populations.
• The report describes a drift away from traditional values.

使い方： a drift towards/away from something (There has been a gradual drift towards stricter rules.)

類義語： shift, change

よく使う表現： genetic drift, drift towards something, gradual drift