Leçon 17

Question 1

limiter, freiner

The use of cars on hot summer days should be ________ in city centres in order to curb pollution.

Answer 1

to curtail

The use of cars on hot summer days should be curtailed in city centres in order to curb pollution.

Question 2

amortir, atténuer

The social effects of unemployment are _________ by higher unemployment benefits.

Answer 2

to cushion

The social effects of unemployment are cushioned by higher unemployment benefits.

Question 3

réduire les coûts

Multinationals are pressing into even more markets from Chile to China. They are also contracting out an increasing proportion of their production to low-range countries to help ________.

Answer 3

to cut costs

Multinationals are pressing into even more markets from Chile to China. They are also contracting out an increasing proportion of their production to low-range countries to help cut costs.

Question 4

simple, clair et net

There is no _______ answer to the problem of our fossil fuel supplies running out.

Answer 4

cut and dried

There is no cut and dried answer to the problem of our fossil fuel supplies running out.

Question 5

des dégâts, des dommages

Answer 5

damage

Question 6

subir des dégâts sévères / graves

The candidate’s election campaign ________ the latest scandal.

Answer 6

to suffer severe/bad damage from

The candidate’s election campaign suffered severe damage from the latest scandal.

Question 7

nuire considérablement à

Several people thought that ll of the scandals involving Donald Trump would _________ his election campaign.

Answer 7

to do considerable / extensive damage to

Several people thought that ll of the scandals involving Donald Trump would do considerable damage to his election campaign.

Question 8

un danger menaçant

North Korea’s nuclear capacity is _________ to us all.

Answer 8

a looming danger

North Korea’s nuclear capacity is a looming danger to us all.

Question 9

se précipiter

In the final days of a general election candidates will _________ to campaign in as many regions as possible in as little time as possible.

Answer 9

to dash

In the final days of a general election candidates will dash to campaign in as many regions as possible in as little time as possible.

Question 10

anéantir (espoir, attentes)

All hopes for a peace-agreement were _________ after the President’s assassination.

Answer 10

to dash hopes / expectations

All hopes for a peace-agreement were dashed after the President’s assassination.

Question 11

à ce jour

Answer 11

to date

Question 12

être à jour

Answer 12

to be up to date

Question 13

périmé, démodé

Answer 13

out of date

Question 14

redoutable, décourageant, intimidant

Answer 14

daunting

Question 15

une redoutable expérience

Answer 15

a daunting experience

Question 16

déterminé, sans peur

Answer 16

dauntless

Question 17

sans se décourager

Answer 17

dauntlessly

Question 18

décourager

Answer 18

to daunt

Question 19

les jours de bonheur paisible, souvent passés (fait référence à une période où tout allait bien)

Certain Labour party members will often talk about the ‘___________’ of Tony Blair’s administration.

Answer 19

halcyon days

Certain Labour party members will often talk about the ‘halcyon days’ of Tony Blair’s administration.

Question 20

éblouissant

Answer 20

dazzling

Question 21

dans le plus grand sérieux

The President’s administration went about carrying out his plan ________.

Answer 21

in dead earnest

The President’s administration went about carrying out his plan in dead earnest.

Question 22

il est très sérieux, il ne plaisante pas

Answer 22

he is dead earnest

Question 23

s’opposer absolument à quelque chose

Republicans _______ usually _________ restricting the use of firearms.

Answer 23

to be dead set against something

Republicans are usually dead set against restricting the use of firearms.

Question 24

une impasse / un trou perdu

Answer 24

a dead-end

Question 25

un travail sans avenir

If you are working in a _________ it means your career is not going to advance at all and the phrase has negative connotations.

Answer 25

a dead-end job

If you are working in a dead-end job it means your career is not going to advance at all and the phrase has negative connotations.

Question 26

être dans une impasse

Unfortunately, after several hours the peacekeeping force’s negotiations ______________.

Answer 26

to come to a dead end

Unfortunately, after several hours the peacekeeping force’s negotiations came to a dead end.

Question 27

fichu

The bill was far too radical for the Senate’s taste and lost support, it was _________.

Answer 27

dead in the water

The bill was far too radical for the Senate’s taste and lost support, it was dead in the water.

Question 28

pile à l’heure

CEOs like Elon Musk and Richard Branson believe that if an employee is not ___________. they should be fired.

Answer 28

dead on time

CEOs like Elon Musk and Richard Branson believe that if an employee is not dead on time, they should be fired.

Question 29

une date butoir, une date limite imposée, une échéance

Often Presidents will set a _________ by which they wish to pass a bill in their inaugurational speech, if they miss it their approval ratings will surely drop.

Answer 29

a deadline

Often Presidents will set a deadline by which they wish to pass a bill in their inaugurational speech, if they miss it their approval ratings will surely drop.