ものなら

―ものなら

¶その木に登れる～登ってみろよ

I dare you to climb up the tree.

¶できる～やってごらん

I bet you can't do that. 絶対にそんな事できないよ.

* * *

-ものなら, -もんなら

1 〔実現できそうにない仮定〕

●彼女は私に向かって競走で勝てるものならやってみたらと言った. She turned to me and said, “If you think you can beat me, then try it.” | She dared [challenged] me to outrun her.

・おれを殴れるもんなら殴ってみろ. If you think you can beat me up, here I am.

2 〔実現しては困る仮定〕

●あの男に勝手にやらせようものなら, 何をやりだすかわからない. There's no telling what he would do, if he were ever allowed to have his own way.

・いいか, 警察に言おうものなら, ただじゃ置かないぜ. Listen, if you want to go to the police, you'll pay for it!