afoot

afoot

小池百合子都知事は、東京駅八重洲口周辺にインターナショナルスクールを誘致する考えを明らかにしました。

International school planned in front of Tokyo Station

Moves are afoot to open an international school near Tokyo Station as part of efforts to attract more companies from overseas to set up operations in the capital.

“I will urge operators to open an international school in front of Tokyo Station,” Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said at a symposium on Sept. 12. “When we call on foreign companies to expand into Tokyo, an important problem is how to secure schools for their employees’ children.”

According to the metropolitan government, plans are under way for an international school to open in the Yaesu 2-chome district in Chuo Ward near the station.

The district is designated a pro-business National Strategic Special Zone where the government has eased standards for floor space for facilities that will help bolster Japan’s international competitiveness.

Companies in the special zone can also benefit from corporate tax breaks, and the metropolitan government will recommend that the operator of the international school take advantage of the tax credit system.

“I will set up a project team to sort out relevant issues,” Koike said.

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201609250001.html

今回取り上げる表現は、“afoot”です。『ウィズダム英和辞典』(第３版、三省堂)を引いたところ、「〈事が〉(詳細は不明だが)計画中で；進行中で；起ころうとして」とありました。

LDOCEでも確認してみたところ、“being planned or happening”と定義されていました。

『ウィズダム英和辞典』の定義にもあったように、“afoot”を使うことによってまだ計画が初期段階であることを表現することができます。一方で“plan”は“something you have decided to do”とLDOCEに載っており、決定事項を表現する際に用いられるようです。(Blue Sky)