利かせる

きかせる【利かせる】

〔働かせる， 活動させる〕

¶私の家では母がにらみをきかせている

My family is under the control of Mother.

¶彼ににらみをきかせて黙らせる［赤面させる］

stare him into silence ［out of countenance］

¶機転をきかせて彼女を救う

have the intelligence to save her

¶彼女は機転を大いにきかせてきわどい質問をかわした

She showed a great deal of wit in handling the delicate question.

* * *

きかせる¹, きかす【利かせる, 利かす】

1 〔効きめを持たせる〕 (do sth to) bring out 《a thing's》 effect; put sth to good use; (調味料を) season 《with salt》 to bring out the taste; bring out 《a salty, a sweet, a bitter》 taste; 〔示す〕 display.

●顔を利かせる ⇒かお 5

・幅を利かせる make one's weight [influence] felt; throw one's weight around

・にらみを利かせる frighten people with one's stare; use intimidation

・すごみを利かせる frighten sb with threats; make use of threats; bully sb

・おもしを利かせる place a heavy stone on top 《of a lid covering items being pickled》; use a heavy stone to press down 《when pickling, when gluing parts together》; press down with a (heavy) weight

・パンチを利かせる put in more punch [dynamism]

・冷房を利かせる put the air conditioner to (good) use.

●もっと塩を利かせてください. Put in more salt, please. | It needs more salt.

2 〔心を働かせる〕 use; exercise.

●気を利かせる ⇒き³

・機転を利かせる use [exercise] tact; think quickly.