Mots difficiles en anglais
to yearn
désirer vivement (qch) « He yearned for freedom. » « I yearned to see her again. »
hectic
trépidant « I have a very hectic life. »
mouvementé « It has been pretty hectic during the past couple of years. »
mouvementé « It has been pretty hectic during the past couple of years. »
fuzzy
flou « the picture came out fuzzy »
crépu « he's the one with fuzzy red hair »
confus « he had little patience for fuzzy ideas. »
crépu « he's the one with fuzzy red hair »
confus « he had little patience for fuzzy ideas. »
devoid of
dépourvu de « A face that was devoid of feeling » « He was devoid of any talent whatsoever. »
acorn
gland (de chêne). « Acorns will germinate and grow into oaks. »to hatch
[chick, egg] éclore « She stays in the nest until the chicks hatch »
to be hatched = éclos « The young disappeared soon after they were hatched. »
[+scheme, plot] tramer « What if the 9/11 conspiracy were actually hatched in Washington DC, at the highest leves of the US governement? »
to be hatched = éclos « The young disappeared soon after they were hatched. »
[+scheme, plot] tramer « What if the 9/11 conspiracy were actually hatched in Washington DC, at the highest leves of the US governement? »
nosey, nosy
curieux → « those nosey neighbours ; don't be so nosey! »
realm
royaume
domaine → public opinion plays a vital role in the political realm → the realm of politics = le domaine de la politique → it's not beyond the realms of possibility = c'est du domaine du possible.
domaine → public opinion plays a vital role in the political realm → the realm of politics = le domaine de la politique → it's not beyond the realms of possibility = c'est du domaine du possible.
arson
incendie criminel. « He was charged with arson. »awkward
gauche, maladroit, malhabile, emprunté, gênant.
to feel awkward = se sentir mal à l'aise.
awkward situation = situation gênante.
to feel awkward = se sentir mal à l'aise.
awkward situation = situation gênante.
hug
étreinteto hug = étreindre
swagger
fam.: démarche, style « You have charisma, confidence, you have swagger. » « He has the look and swagger of a Hollywood star. »
to swagger : plastronner, rouler les mécaniques
with a swagger = en plastronnant « he walked with a swagger. »
swag = style ; butin
to swagger : plastronner, rouler les mécaniques
with a swagger = en plastronnant « he walked with a swagger. »
swag = style ; butin
posh
chic « a posh hotel » « a posh dinner party » « I wouldn't have thought she had such posh friends. » « He sounded so posh on the phone. »
to talk posh = parler d'une manière affectée.
to talk posh = parler d'une manière affectée.
hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades
coeurs, trèfles, carreaux, piques (cartes) « The ace of hearts, the king of clubs, the queen of diamonds and the jack of spades » : l'as de coeur, le roi de trèfle, la reine de carreau, et le valet de pique
red herring
that's a red herring = c'est pour brouiller les pistes.
clover
trèfle
four-leaf clover = trèfle à quatre feuilles
to be in clover = être comme un coq en pâte
à ne pas confondre avec "clubs"(aux cartes) « the king of clubs »
to be in clover = être comme un coq en pâte
à ne pas confondre avec "clubs"(aux cartes) « the king of clubs »
coarse
grossier, épais, dru. Coarse cloth, skin, hair, grass.
grossier, vulgaire (=foul-mouthed) « He objected to her coarse and offensive remarks » « A rather coarse fellow. »
coarse fishing = pêche à la ligne.
grossier, vulgaire (=foul-mouthed) « He objected to her coarse and offensive remarks » « A rather coarse fellow. »
coarse fishing = pêche à la ligne.
foul
infect, immonde, affreux « The weather was foul » « What a foul smell! » « He was in a foul mood » « I've had a really foul day at work. »
[language] ordurier « I won't have you using such foul language in my house! »
by fair means or foul = par n'importe quel moyen.
faute (de jeu). To commit a foul on sb. « He was sent off for fouling the goalkeeper. »
to cry foul = crier à l'injustice « Tourists cry foul as euro pushes up cost of holidays. »
to foul = polluer, souiller « Two oil spills near Los Angeles have fouled the ocean. »
to foul up = bloquer « It is raining again this morning which will foul up traffic. »
foul-mouthed = grossier « that fat, racist, foul-mouth friend of yours. »
foul play = jeu irrégulier « Players were warned twice for foul play. » Meurtre « Foul play is not suspected. »
foul-smelling = puant
foul-tasting = infect
foul-tempered = d'un caractère de cochon
foul-up = cafouillage « A series of technical foul-ups delayed the launch of the new product. »
professional foul = faute délibérée.
[language] ordurier « I won't have you using such foul language in my house! »
by fair means or foul = par n'importe quel moyen.
faute (de jeu). To commit a foul on sb. « He was sent off for fouling the goalkeeper. »
to cry foul = crier à l'injustice « Tourists cry foul as euro pushes up cost of holidays. »
to foul = polluer, souiller « Two oil spills near Los Angeles have fouled the ocean. »
to foul up = bloquer « It is raining again this morning which will foul up traffic. »
foul-mouthed = grossier « that fat, racist, foul-mouth friend of yours. »
foul play = jeu irrégulier « Players were warned twice for foul play. » Meurtre « Foul play is not suspected. »
foul-smelling = puant
foul-tasting = infect
foul-tempered = d'un caractère de cochon
foul-up = cafouillage « A series of technical foul-ups delayed the launch of the new product. »
professional foul = faute délibérée.
stamina
endurance « I have always admired the strength and stamina of dancers. » « Shopping is a woman's game. It requires unlimited stamina. »
layman
profane (=non-expert) « The mere mention of the words `heart failure', can conjure up, to the layman, the prospect of imminent death. »
in layman's terms = en langage de tous les jours, en termes profanes « explaining scientific breakthroughs in layman's terms. »
in layman's terms = en langage de tous les jours, en termes profanes « explaining scientific breakthroughs in layman's terms. »
knavish
de filou « I should not have thought that at your age you would be capable of such a knavish trick. »
frailty
faiblesse « a triumph of will over human frailty. » « the frailties of human nature. »
fragilité « She died after a long period of increasing frailty. »
fragilité « She died after a long period of increasing frailty. »
to wrestle
lutter corps à corps « He leapt onto the vehicle and wrestled (with) the driver. »
to wrestle with sth [+problem, question] se débattre avec qch. « He wrestled with the decision for several weeks, wondering what he should do. »
to arm-wrestle (with sb) = faire un bras de fer (avec qn). « Did any of you boys ever arm-wrestle? »
to wrestle with sth [+problem, question] se débattre avec qch. « He wrestled with the decision for several weeks, wondering what he should do. »
to arm-wrestle (with sb) = faire un bras de fer (avec qn). « Did any of you boys ever arm-wrestle? »
distressing
pénible, bouleversant « Some viewers may find these scenes distressing. » « Seeing your baby vomit can be very distressing. » « Tranquillizers help alleviate the distressing symptoms of anxiety. »
archnemesis
ennemi juré, pire ennemi. « My brother is my archnemesis. »
watchdog
chien de garde
organisme de contrôle → « Britain's gas industry watchdog. »
consumer watchdog = organisme de défense des consommateurs
organisme de contrôle → « Britain's gas industry watchdog. »
consumer watchdog = organisme de défense des consommateurs
bailout
sauvetage ; renflouement ; remise à flot. « The company survived thanks to the bailout. »
bailout plan = plan de sauvetage
bailout plan = plan de sauvetage
sentient
doué de sens, sensible « most animals are sentient beings, with complex sensations and emotions. »
bygone
passé
let bygones be bygones = passons l'éponge, oublions le passé
let bygones be bygones = passons l'éponge, oublions le passé
adamant
inflexible « The judge was adamant. » « The government is adamant that it will not yield to pressure. »
to tickle
chatouiller « I was tickling him, and he was giggling. » « A beard doesn't scratch, it just tickles. » « This scarf tickles. »
fig.: réjouir « it tickled me to see them together again. » « This is so adorable, it tickles my heart ! »
fig.: réjouir « it tickled me to see them together again. » « This is so adorable, it tickles my heart ! »
hummingbird
colibri, oiseau-mouche. « Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world. »butler
maître d'hôtel, majordome « The butler, as the senior male servant, has the highest servant status. »
bouteiller (officier chargé autrefois de l'approvisionnement en vin).
bouteiller (officier chargé autrefois de l'approvisionnement en vin).
bespoke
sur commande, sur mesure « A bespoke service » « A bespoke dinner jacket. »
nimble
agile « everything had been stitched by Molly's nimble fingers. »
vif « if they want to keep their minds nimble, they must use them. »
nimble-fingered = aux doigts agiles
nimble-footed = au pied léger
nimbleness = agilité, vivacité
vif « if they want to keep their minds nimble, they must use them. »
nimble-fingered = aux doigts agiles
nimble-footed = au pied léger
nimbleness = agilité, vivacité
surefire
certain, infaillible
ravenous
affamé « I'm ravenous all of the time. »
to be ravenous = avoir une faim de loup.
to be ravenous = avoir une faim de loup.
logging
exploitation forestière. A logging company.rein
rêne « She gripped the reins tightly. »
to give sb free rein = donner carte blanche à qn « The government gave free rein to the private sector in transport. »
to keep a tight rein on sth = exercer un contrôle strict sur qch « The Government is keeping a tight rein on public expenditure. »
to rein in = réfréner « He has had to rein in his enthusiasm. » « The government finally reined in inflation by sending interest rates soaring. »
to give sb free rein = donner carte blanche à qn « The government gave free rein to the private sector in transport. »
to keep a tight rein on sth = exercer un contrôle strict sur qch « The Government is keeping a tight rein on public expenditure. »
to rein in = réfréner « He has had to rein in his enthusiasm. » « The government finally reined in inflation by sending interest rates soaring. »
manure
fumiermanure heap = tas de fumier
horse manure = crottin de cheval
errand
course, commission « She went downtown to do errands. » to go on an errand, to run errands = faire une/des courses.
ferris wheel
grande roue (=big wheel). « Are you ready to go on the Ferris wheel? »valediction
adieu « A glorious valediction. »
forehead
front « High forehead, thin lips, clean-shaven. »
ear
oreille
épi « ear of wheat. »
épi « ear of wheat. »
conversely
inversement, réciproquement, au contraire « I was a contented child. Axel, conversely, was a very unhappy boy. »
stocking
bas. « a pair of stockings »reckless
téméraire « She was reckless and utterly without fear. »
with reckless abandon = avec témérité « I was on my dirt bike, barreling down a gravel road full speed with the reckless abandon that only a 13-year-old boy could have. »
with reckless abandon = avec témérité « I was on my dirt bike, barreling down a gravel road full speed with the reckless abandon that only a 13-year-old boy could have. »
boast
to boast = se vanter (=to brag) « Stop boasting! »
to boast about sth = se vanter de qch. « Carol boasted about her costume. »
to boast of/that = se vanter de « He boasted of being involved in the arms theft. » « He boasted that he was someone great. »
vantardise « This isn't meant as a boast » « her boast of being a great lover. »
to boast about sth = se vanter de qch. « Carol boasted about her costume. »
to boast of/that = se vanter de « He boasted of being involved in the arms theft. » « He boasted that he was someone great. »
vantardise « This isn't meant as a boast » « her boast of being a great lover. »
to brag
se vanter (=to boast) « He'll probably go around bragging to his friends. »
to brag about sth = se vanter de qch « I didn't brag about the salary. »
to brag about sth = se vanter de qch « I didn't brag about the salary. »