whiteantとは 意味・読み方・使い方

名詞

white ant (複数形 white ants)

1. (informal) A termite.
   • 1885 October, Henry Drummond, The White Ant: A Theory, Popular Science Monthly, page 741,

     The most important point in the work of the white ant remains to be noted. I have already said that the white ant is never seen.

   • 1971 June 3, Technology Review: Spoiling the termite′s dinner, New Scientist, page 573,

     The most voracious cable-muncher in the tropical and sub-tropical parts of Australia is the termite, or white ant, which eats through both lead and polythene sheathings.

   • 1990 December 13, Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard), page D.3,

     Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am happy to hear that the hon. Member appreciates the fact that white ants cause a lot [of] destruction in his area. There is very little we can do about white ants.

   • 1995, Bill Sheat, Gerald Schofield, Complete Gardening in Southern Africa, page 424,

     White ants destroy living plants by removing the epidermal layers, effectively ‘ringbarking’ the subject.

   • 2010, David Livingstone, 15: Conversations on Rain-Making, Roy Richard Grinker, Stephen C. Lubkemann, Christopher B. Steiner (editors), Perspectives on Africa: A Reader in Culture, History and Representation, page 246,

     Our house was built on a hard ferruginous conglomerate, in order to be out of the way of the white ant, but they came in despite the precaution; […] .

使用する際の注意点

• Since a white ant is not a true ant (though its form かつ behaviour appear to suggest a relationship), the term termite is generally preferred, especially in scientific contexts.

動詞

white-ant (三人称単数 現在形 white-ants, 現在分詞 white-anting, 過去形および過去分詞形 white-anted)

1. (Australia, colloquial) To bring down from within; to undermine.

   The white-anting of ATSIC has been brought about by the usual suspects. ^[1]

   If someone undermines you at work you might say they were "white-anting" you. ^[2]

   • 2002, Alan Barcan, Radical Students: The Old Left at Sydney University, page 324,

     The left was divided between the ALP Club, slowly being white-anted by supporters of the DLP, and a Labour or Socialist Club which disgraced the labour movement by its extremism.

   • 2005, Clinton Walker, Golden Miles: Sex, Speed and the Australian Muscle Car, page 149,

     Plans for the Force 7 had officially been announced earlier in ′74, off the back of the P76′s Car of the Year award, before the shortages and poor quality control started white-anting it.

   • 2008, Peter Van Onselen, Wayne Errington, John Winston Howard: The Definitive Biography, page 102,

     He was always prepared to contest an open ballot, when he viewed runs on the leadership as a free-for-all, but never challenged an incumbent leader. In time, Peacock supporters would accuse Howard of white-anting Peacock′s leadership.

   • 2011, Mark McKenna, An Eye for Eternity: The Life of Manning Clark, page 263,

     In May 1947, Clark ‘debated’ Edmunds on ABC Radio, the topic: ‘Is communism white-anting our education system?’—a clear invitation for violent disagreement.

参照

1. ^ Article Title
2. ^ ABC NewsRadio