threaten

脅す、脅迫する

言うことを聞かなければ危害を加えたり困らせたりすると相手に言う。

やさしい英語で： To say you will hurt someone or cause trouble if they do not do what you want.

• Don’t threaten me.
• He threatened to break my phone.
• The robbers threatened the guard with a gun.

使い方： threaten to do something (He threatened to call the police.); threaten someone with something (The man threatened her with a knife.)

類義語： intimidate, menace

よく使う表現： threaten someone, threaten to leave, threaten with something

危険にさらす、脅かす

人や物に害を与えたり、物を壊したりするおそれを生じさせる。

やさしい英語で： To create a danger that could harm or destroy someone or something.

• Floods threaten the village.
• The disease threatened her life.
• Rising costs threaten the company’s future.

類義語： endanger, jeopardize

反対語： protect

よく使う表現： threaten something, threaten someone, threaten wildlife

前兆となる、起こりそうになる

悪いことが起こりそうな兆しを見せる。

やさしい英語で： To show signs that something bad is likely to happen.

• Dark clouds threaten rain.
• The heavy branch threatened to fall.
• The worsening weather threatened further delays.

使い方： threaten to do something (The old roof threatened to collapse.)

類義語： portend, foreshadow

よく使う表現： threaten rain, threaten to fall, threaten disaster