Leçon 20

Question 1

une différence, une divergence, un désaccord

There is still a significant _________ between the salaries of male and of female employees.

Answer 1

a discrepancy

There is still a significant discrepancy between the salaries of male and of female employees.

Question 2

faire capoter, ruiner

All hopes of early release of the hostages seem to have been _________ for the time being.

Answer 2

to dash

All hopes of early release of the hostages seem to have been dashed for the time being.

Question 3

distribuer généreusement

The socialist government is often accused of __________ subsidies to people who are not entitled to them (qui n’y ont pas droit).

Answer 3

to dish out

The socialist government is often accused of dishing out subsidies to people who are not entitled to them (qui n’y ont pas droit).

Question 4

sombre, triste

The French team’s _________ performance in the World Cup led to rioting across the country.

Answer 4

dismal

The French team’s dismal performance in the World Cup led to rioting across the country.

Question 5

la consternation, l’effarement

Answer 5

dismay

Question 6

être consterné

The whole country _________ to hear about the embezzlement scandal in the White House.

Answer 6

to be dismayed

The whole country was dismayed to hear about the embezzlement scandal in the White House.

Question 7

congédier, licencier

Answer 7

to dismiss

Question 8

un licenciement

When the country started losing money there were a lot of _________.

Answer 8

a dismissal

When the country started losing money there were a lot of dismissals.

Question 9

rejeter une idée

The journalist ______ the commonly held _______ that the president is a puppet leader of a government controlled by the vice-president.

Answer 9

to dismiss an idea

The journalist dismissed the commonly held idea that the president is a puppet leader of a government controlled by the vice-president.

Question 10

désavouer, renier

Unfortunately, he was _________ by his family after the terrible rumours which had been spread.

Answer 10

to disown

Unfortunately, he was disowned by his family after the terrible rumours which had been spread.

Question 11

afficher, montrer au grand jour, étaler

Les nouveaux-riches de Moscou s’empressent d’étaler leurs fourrures, leurs bijoux, leurs dents en or et leurs voitures de luxe.

Answer 11

to display

The newly-rich Moscovites are eager to display their furs, their jewels, their golden teeth and their posh cars.

Question 12

jeter, se débarrasser de

Certaines industries ne savent toujours pas comment se débarrasser de leurs déchets nuisibles.

Answer 12

to dispose of

Some industries are still at a loss about how to dispose of their noxious waste.

Question 13

jetable

Answer 13

disposable

Question 14

un rasoir jetable

Answer 14

a disposable razor

Question 15

bouteilles, emballages etc., jetables

Answer 15

disposables (bottles, containers…)

Question 16

une débat, une polémique - un conflit

Answer 16

a dispute

Question 17

discutable

Many people believe that the Prime Minister’s accession to his position was not exactly democratic, they believe the legitimacy of it was _______.

Answer 17

disputable

Many people believe that the Prime Minister’s accession to his position was not exactly democratic, they believe the legitimacy of it was disputable.

Question 18

inquiétude

Answer 18

disquiet

There is a great deal of disquiet about the threat of global warming.

Question 19

inquiétant

Answer 19

disquieting

Question 20

briser, perturber

The joyousness of the royal wedding was _________ by riots and protesting.

Answer 20

to disrupt

The joyousness of the royal wedding was disrupted by riots and protesting.

Question 21

une rupture, une perturbation

The weather has _________ the traffic.

The Tube’s improvement works will inevitably result in some ________ for passengers but London underground is working hard to provide information and alternative travel options.

Answer 21

disruption

The weather has disrupted the traffic.

The Tube’s improvement works will inevitably result in some disruption for passengers but London underground is working hard to provide information and alternative travel options.

Question 22

une influence perturbatrice

Answer 22

a disruptive influence

Question 23

une différence d’opinion

There has been significant ________ amongst the British aristocracy regarding their diminishing authority and role in society.

Answer 23

dissent

There has been significant dissent amongst the British aristocracy regarding their diminishing authority and role in society.

Question 24

différer (d’opinion)

Answer 24

to dissent

Question 25

la détresse, la douleur

It is unbearable to witness the ________ of people who are compelled to leave their homes and families.

Answer 25

distress

It is unbearable to witness the distress of people who are compelled to leave their homes and families.

Question 26

angoissant

The latest news about Ulster is quite _______.

Answer 26

distressing

The latest news about Ulster is quite distressing.

Question 27

abandonner (un projet)

Barack Obama was forced to _______ his healthcare reform.

Answer 27

to ditch

Barack Obama was forced to ditch his healthcare reform.

Question 28

une ultime tentative

They made _______ to achieve progress before the deadline passed to get the bill through Congress.

Answer 28

a last-ditch attempt

They made a last-ditch attempt to achieve progress before the deadline passed to get the bill through Congress.

Question 29

hésiter

You can’t afford to ________. Either you take up the offer or you allow the business to wind down.

Answer 29

to dither [di·thuh]

You can’t afford to dither. Either you take up the offer or you allow the business to wind down.

Question 30

idem

Hotels are expensive in London and ______ the restaurants, this massive difference in comparison to the rest of the country is what led to the different minimum wages.

Answer 30

ditto

Hotels are expensive in London and ditto the restaurants, this massive difference in comparison to the rest of the country is what led to the different minimum wages.

Question 31

de but en blanc

Answer 31

point-blank

Question 32

bâtir des châteaux en Espagne

Answer 32

to build castles in the sky

Question 33

du tac au tac

Answer 33

tit for tat

Question 34

faire la sourde oreille

Answer 34

to turn a deaf ear

Question 35

parler à coeur ouvert (avec)

Answer 35

to have a heart-to-heart talk (with)

Question 36

dire à quelqu’un ses quatre vérités

Answer 36

to tell someone a few home truths

Question 37

en un mot comme en cent

Answer 37

to cut a long story short

Question 38

les tenants et les aboutissants de

Answer 38

the ins and outs of

Question 39

le pourquoi et le comment

Answer 39

the whys and wherefores

Question 40

(peser) le pour et le contre

Answer 40

(to weigh) the pros and cons

Question 41

mettre les points sur les “i”

Answer 41

to dot the i’s and cross the t’s

Question 42

un point c’est tout

Answer 42

that is it

Question 43

couper les cheveux en quatre

Answer 43

to split hairs

Question 44

être aux antipodes de

Answer 44

to be poles apart