In the vn rewrite, the protag こたろう is trying to salvage the relationship of
two heroines ルチア and ちはや, together with 2 other heroines, 静流 and 小鳥. The
protag thinks the following:

> 今回の作戦を立案したのは俺だ。とにかく、是が非でも仲直りを達成させ、今日を円満に終わらせなければならない。
> 小鳥や静流も十分、手伝ってくれてる。彼女らに当たるわけには行かない。

The english translation says that “I can’t rely on them”, but how does that
meaning come forth? None of the jp definitions list a similar meaning in the
dictionary, so I am troubled with remembering this use of 当たる. Could someone
please explain it to me?
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2023-07-18T12:24:29.353
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2023-08-18T00:01:35.170
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question
meaning words nuances
What is the meaning of 当たる here exactly?
If I guessed the context correctly, this 当たる is [the 12th definition
here](https://jisho.org/word/%E5%BD%93%E3%81%9F%E3%82%8B):

[![12. to treat \(esp. harshly\); to lash out
at](https://i.stack.imgur.com/QAqVw.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/QAqVw.png)

～に当たる in this sense refers to showing a cold or aggressive attitude toward
someone (typically due to mental stress). You may have seen
[八つ当たり](https://jisho.org/word/%E5%85%AB%E3%81%A4%E5%BD%93%E3%81%9F%E3%82%8A)
before. Does this fit the context?

Perhaps the English translator have mistaken it as
[当てにする](https://jisho.org/word/%E5%BD%93%E3%81%A6%E3%81%AB%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B),
but it's a completely different phrase.

**EDIT:** Maybe the protagonist is looking for someone to ask a favor or
someone to work with? Then it's this:

> ####
> [当たる](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E5%BD%93%E3%82%8B/#:%7E:text=%EF%BC%94%20%E7%89%A9%E4%BA%8B%E3%81%AB%E6%8E%A2%E3%82%8A%E3%82%92%E5%85%A5%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E3%80%82%E3%82%88%E3%81%86%E3%81%99%E3%82%92%E8%A6%8B%E3%82%8B%E3%80%82%E7%A2%BA%E3%81%8B%E3%82%81%E3%81%A6%E3%81%BF%E3%82%8B%E3%80%82%E3%80%8C%E5%8E%9F%E6%9C%AC%E3%81%AB%E2%80%95%E3%83%BB%E3%82%8B%E3%80%8D%E3%80%8C%E4%BB%96%E3%81%AE%E5%BA%97%E3%82%92%E2%80%95%E3%83%BB%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6%E3%81%BF%E3%82%88%E3%81%86%E3%80%8D)
>
> ４ 物事に探りを入れる。ようすを見る。確かめてみる。「原本に―・る」「他の店を―・ってみよう」

> #### [当たる](https://jisho.org/word/%E5%BD%93%E3%81%9F%E3%82%8B)
>
>   17. to feel (something) out; to probe into; to check (i.e. by comparison)
>

> 二［他五］❶不明な点を明らかにしようとして、探りを入れる。また、調べ確かめる。  
>  「その件は当局に当たってみよう」「問題の箇所を辞書に当たる」「胴回りの寸法を当たる」  
>  (Source: 大修館書店 明鏡国語辞典 第三版)

If this is the case, since the target is people, a literal translation would
be "Sounding them out (if they can help) is not an option", but "I can't rely
on them" is not bad, either.
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answer