not to put too fine a point on itとは

意味・読み方・使い方

語源

A reference to the fact that the speaker is about to say something blunt rather than fine (that is, delicate または subtle).

発音

• (Received 発音) IPA^(key): /nɒt tʊ ˌpʊt tuː ˌfaɪn ə ˈpɔɪnt ɒn ɪt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /nɑt tə ˌpʊt tu ˌfaɪn ə ˈpɔɪnt ɑn ət/

成句

not to put too fine a point on it

1. (idiomatic) Used to apologize for a possibly impolite statement one is making.
   • 1852 March – 1853 September​, Charles Dickens, “Mr. Bucket”, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, OCLC 999756093, page 217:

     My little woman is at present in—not to put too fine a point on it—in a pious state, or in what she considers such, and attends the Evening Exertions (which is the name they go by) of a reverend party of the name of Chadband.

   • 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 16: Eumaeus]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare & Co.; Sylvia Beach, OCLC 560090630; republished London: Published for the Egoist Press, London by John Rodker, Paris, October 1922, OCLC 2297483, page 570:

     En route, to his taciturn, and, not to put too fine a point on it, not yet perfectly sober companion, Mr Bloom, who at all events, was in complete possession of his faculties, never more so, in fact disgustingly sober, spoke a word of caution re the dangers of nighttown, women of ill fame and swell mobsmen, […]

   • 2000, Amy Jenkins, chapter 4, in Honeymoon, London: Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN; republished as Honeymoon (Flame), London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2001, →ISBN, page 39:

     You explain slowly and clearly that you are doing him the honour of not beating about the bush […] Well, you will end up – not to put too fine a point on it (you lower your voice) – having sex. And while you are sure that sex would be very nice, the prognosis for a future between the two of you is not good.

参考

• in all honesty
• to be honest
• to tell the truth
• pardon my French, excuse my French