Road to C2 Flashcards
To remove the bad feelings between people
To clear the air
To disagree or be different from something
(To be) at odds over/with
Phrase:
Expressing certainty that something is true
Beyond (a shadow of) a doubt
To decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than acting according to plans made earlier
To play it by ear
To use your authority to stop something happening
To put (one’s) foot down
-> Ex: No, you’re not going to that party. I’m putting my foot down !
Refers to work or money that is wasted
down the drain
Ex: All that work down the drain.
The money that I won went right down the drain.
To introduce an idea or opinion that is hypothetical or speculative
If I were to say
Ex: If I were to say that this job is the most difficult job I’ve ever had, I wouldn’t be wrong.
To be criticised
To come under fire
A word or phrase that is used to describe the characteristics or qualities of people activities, or things, often in the way that is unfair
To label
To label someone as something
extremely bad (choquant, scandaleux) in a way that is very noticeable (flagrant)
egregious
ɪˈɡriːdʒəs
Ex: It was an egregious error for a statesman to show such ignorance.
-> In that sense : flagrante erreur
(cover)
-> Housse
cosy
trying to destroy or damage something, especially an established political system
-> seeking to undermine (discréditer)
subversive (adj)
Ex: subversive elements/groups in society
subversive ideas/influences
thread used for making cloth or for knitting
-> fil / laine
yarn (noun)
/ˈjɑːrn/
to play music or sing in a public place so that the people who are there will give money
To busk
You accept calmly and without anger something that is not satisfactory, understanding that failure and disappointment are a part of life.
-> to have calmly accepted the news
to be philosophical
A person who is certain about their beliefs, and expresses their ideas strongly and often
Having strong opinions that you feel free to express
Someone who has a lot to say on every subject
opinionated (adj)
Ex: She’s highly opinionated: unfortunately her opinions are all stupid.
He wrote a very opinionated article on the subject
Life at home taking care of your house and family
-> vie de famille
domesticity (noun)
- (especially in economics) an improvement or a change to a higher level or value
-> reprise, amélioration - (overturn, knock over)
-> retourner, renverser
-> mettre à l’envers
to upturn
Ex: The economy experienced an upturn when the civil war ended (1)
Tony upturned a rock and found dozens of ants underneath it (2)
a reduction in the amount or success of something
-> (economics: decline, decrease)
-> baisse
downturn (noun)
(legally responsible)
liable (adj)
(be accountable for)
-> être responsable de [qch]
be liable for [sth]
(be legally held to have injured [sb])
-> être responsable envers [qqn]
be liable to [sb]
- (be legally subject to [sth])
-> être susceptible de faire - (be likely to do [sth])
-> être susceptible de faire
be liable to do [sth]
(be vulnerable to)
-> Risquer de faire [qch]
Be liable to being [sth]
(sad, despondent)
-> (triste) démoralisé
-> abattu
Downcast (adj)
- (clip for papers)
-> agrafe - (basic element of [sth])
-> élément de base - (basic food, drink)
-> aliment de base, produit de base -> countable
staple (noun)
figurative (associate, partner)
-> associé, collègue
bedfellow
(sheet of glass in window)
-> carreau
pane
(informal) une dispute
row
(hostile)
-> désagréable
-> (personne) antipathique
-> (endroit, ambiance) froid
uncongenial (adj)
Difference between frequent and recurrent
Frequent is done or occurring often
While recurrent is returning or happening time after time
Ex: a bus making frequent stops or recurrent complaints
Difference between weary and fatigue
Weary stresses tiring until one is unable to endure more of the same thing
Fatigue suggests great lassitude from excessive strain (tension excessive) or undue effort (effort excessif)
someone who talks or reads about being a traveller on television but does not have any real experience of doing it
armchair traveller
slang
-> débourser
to fork out [sth]
- (object: heavy)
-> lourd, gros - (amount: large)
-> gros
-> (argent) joli - (person: heavily built)
-> baraqué
hefty (adj)
(hitchhike)
-> faire du stop
thumb a lift
(Idiom) to take on a responsibility, duty, or hardship, often one
that is difficult or challenging.
This phrase is often used to describe situations where someone is taking on a significant responsibility, whether in a personal, professional, or social context.
to shoulder the burden
(pay the costs)
-> (dépenses) couvrir
foot the bill
figurative, informal (confront [sth]’s consequences)
-> Faire face aux conséquences
face the music
Idiom:
figurative (conform)
-> rentrer dans le rang
-> se conformer aux règles établies
toe the line
to be able to accept an unpleasant idea or watch something unpleasant
to stomach the idea
comment dire que je stresse en anglais ?
be / get / …. stressed
Paraphrase of “about”
in the region of
ex: The staff pay rise was in the region of 3%
To say when something good or bad is about to happen
-> 2 prepositional phrases
On the brink of
On the verge of
Paraphrase of “partly”
To some extent
ex: I think you, to some extent, bear some responsibility for making her leave home
Paraphrase of “together with”
in conjunction with
ex: The book was released in conjunction with a TV special and a DVD
Paraphrase of “ without success”
in vain
Paraphrase of “because”
On the grounds (that)
Paraphrase of “not including”
With the exception of
(not trusting)
-> méfiant, sur ses gardes
wary
-> opposite: unwary
Alternatives to purpose
aim, function, objective
Alternatives to stimulate
encourage, promote
Alternatives to “a change for the worse”
less desirable, an unfortunate outcome
Alternatives to “the medium”
the method of delivery
Alternatives to “the message”
the subject matter, the content
(museum custodian)
-> conservateur de musée
curator
Idiom:
To fit together ; to make sense
to fall into place
ex: The pieces of the puzzle are finally starting to fall into place
Idiom: To gradually become worse
To go downhill
ex: After his wife died, his health started to go downhill
Idiom: to be likely to happen
To be on the cards
Ex: So you think they’ll get married next year? I think it’s on the cards
Idiom: you do not need to tell them what happened next because everyone knows about it already
The rest is history
Ex: The Beatles had their first hit record in 1962 and the rest is history
informal (reduce: to economise)
-> réduire, diminuer
to cut back on [sth]
ex: Now that I am unemployed we are going to have to cut back on our spending
Idiom: To accept a particular job or responsability
To take something on
ex: She took too much on and made herself ill
Idiom: to be or become popular or friendly with someone
Be / get in with someone
ex: He’s trying to get in with the teachers
UK (laid off)
-> licencié
redundant (adj)
(adj) giving all your attention to something
-> synonym of absorded
engrossed by/in or in/with
- To be very likely to do or feel a particular thing
- Used to say that something should have been expected
-> can be replaced by “certain to” or “ is inevitable that”
Be bound to
Ex:
1. Don’t lie to her. She’s bound to find out
- When you are dealing with so many patients, mistakes are bound to happen
synonym of “erratic”
-> In the sense of (movement) (mouvement) -> imprévisible, incohérent
-> (person: unreliable) -> imprévisible
unpredictable
Idiom: whatever happens; in spite of all difficulties
-> contre vents et marées
Through thick and thin
Ex: They were friends through thick and thin
If a situation is … , it is uncertain
(adj) touch-and-go
Ex: The doctor says that it’s touch-and-go whether Mary will be okay
(Phrase) very often
time and (time) again
Ex: This woman has proven time and (time) again that she cannot be trusted
(noun) Willingness to accept suggestions from another person and give up some of your own
give and take (noun)
Ex: In every friendship there has to be some give and take
(idiom) someone who is energetic and funny and at the centre of activity during social occasions
The life and soul of the party
Ex: James is the life and soul of the party
Phrase:
(adj) in a very difficult situation without any help
high and dry
Ex: Cuts to the educational budget have left many school arts departments high and dry.
(idiom) A …. subject or situation is one in which it is easy to understand what is right and wrong
black-and-white
Ex: Disarmament isn’t a black-and-white issue for me.
Which adverb can also mean “moderately” ?
fairly
What happens to the adverb “rather” when it is used before negative adjectives or positive ones ?
Before negative adjectives = moderately
Before positive adjectives = more than expected
What does “quite” mean when it is before a gradable adjective ( adj which can be modified, such as good, clever, helpful) ?
Quite = fairly
What does “quite” mean when it is before an ungradable adjective ( adj which can’t be modified, such as fantastic, brilliant, dreadful, etc.) ?
Quite = completely
(noun) the feeling of being unhappy, disappointed, or without hope
dejection
(noun) the feeling of not wanting or not being able to believe something
incredulity
(noun) behaviour that shows no interest or energy and shows that someone is unwilling to take action, especially over something important
apathy
opposite of significant
insignificant
opposite of replaceable
irreplaceable
opposite of assertive
unassertive
opposite of conclusive
inconclusive
(adjective) still continuing to do something or enthusiastic about doing it despite a bad situation
-> qui ne se laisse pas décourager/dissuader
undeterred (by)
(verb) to have existed for a particular length of time or since a particular time
-> remonter à
date back to
to be in a position of authority over someone and to have a duty to make certain that particular things are done
have responsibility for
Ex: Jenny, you have responsibility for collecting up the books after the class.
to have a duty to work for or help someone who is in a position of authority over you
have a responsibility to someone
Ex: The company says it cannot cut its prices any more because it has a responsibility to its shareholders.
(idiom) to gradually accept a sad situation, often the death of someone you love
come to terms with something
Ex: My grandmother has finally come to terms with living alone.
(not count on)
-> ne pas espérer [qch]
-> ne pas s’attendre à [qch]
have no expectation of [sth]
Adjective (especially of remarks) containing unpleasant criticism that is not clearly stated
containing indirect and unkind criticism
snide
ex: She made one or two snide remarks about their house, which I thought was a bit unnecessary.
snide remarks
Is it make an activity or do an activity ?
Do an activity
Adjective : extremely generous with time, money, praise, help, etc.
-> (personne) généreux
-> (générosité) sans limites
-> (soutien, aide) sans faille
unstinting (in)
ex: She was quite unstinting in her praise.
unstinting support/generosity
- to like or enjoy something
-> aimer, apprécier - If you ….. the idea or thought of something, you feel pleasure that it is going to happen
- the enjoyment you get from doing something
To relish
Ex:
1. I always relish a challenge
- She’s relishing the prospect of studying in Bologna for six months
- She ate her cake slowly and with relish
I have no relish for hunting and killing animals
- (piece of equipment)
-> outils
-> outillage
-> équipement - (agent, means)
-> instrument
-> outil
implement
Ex:
1. Shopkeepers are not supposed to sell knives and other sharp implements to children.
- Statistics can be a useful implement for analysis.
knives, forks, and spoons used for eating food
-> couverts
cutlery
Piquer la viande
Spear food
(verb) to try very hard to do something or to make something happen, especially for a long time or against difficulties
-> s’efforcer de faire [qch]
-> Faire des efforts, faire tout son possible
To strive (to do [sth])
Ex: In her writing she strove FOR a balance between innovation and familiar prose forms.
(Adjective)
1. giving too much attention to small details and wanting everything to be correct and perfect
-> (personne) méticuleux
- having a strong dislike of anything dirty or unpleasant
->(personne avec la propreté) maniaque
Fastidious
Ex:
1. He is very fastidious about how a suitcase should be packed.
- They were too fastidious to eat in a fast-food restaurant.
(serving platter)
-> plateau de service
salver
- Nourrir à la cuillière
- figurative (give information)
-> mâcher le travail à [qqn] à propos de [qch]
To spoon-feed [sb] [sth] (to [sb])
figurative (in precarious state)
-> sur le fil du rasoir
-> sur la corde raide
in a difficult or worrying situation of which the result is very uncertain
(Adv) on a knife-edge
Ex:
At the moment the election seems balanced on a knife edge.
Adjective:
giving or expressing pleasure through the physical senses, rather than pleasing the mind or the intelligence
-> sensuel
pleasing to the physical senses
-> sensuel
sensuous
Ex: She luxuriated in the sensuous feel of the silk sheets.
Adjective:
1. having a pleasant sweet taste or containing a lot of juice
-> succulent
2. (of an area of countryside) very green and attractive
luscious
ex:
luscious ripe figs
Synonym of pulpy
fleshy
Adjective:
1. very beautiful and delicate
-> magnifique, de toute beauté
2. used to describe feelings such as pleasure or pain that are extremely strong, or qualities that are extremely good; great
-> intense, extrême
exquisite
Ex:
- Look at this exquisite painting
- The pain was quite exquisite
(fruit, etc : mature)
-> mûrir
to ripen
- (of a plant) to become weak and begin to bend towards the ground
-> se faner - (of a person) to become weaker, tired, or less confident
-> s’épuiser, s’affaiblir, fatiguer
To wilt
Ex:
1. Cut flowers will soon wilt without water.
- After only an hour’s hiking they were beginning to wilt in the heat.
synonym of leafage
foliage
Idiom: referring to something new and exciting, though often used ironically
the best thing since sliced bread
Idiom: to know who to be nice to and what to do in order to get an advantage for yourself
To know which side your bread is buttered (on)
Informal : gagne-pain
bread and butter
Idiom : that’s life
That’s the way the cookie crumbles
Idiom: a brave or independent person
a tough cookie
Idiom:
Very eager
Keen as mustard
Someone who is not up to the job
Doesn’t cut the mustard
Adjective: (packaged in tight plastic)
-> emballé sous film plastique
shrink-wrapped
(noun) something that must exist or happen before something else can exist or happen
-> prérequis
prerequisite (of/for/to)
ˌpriːˈrɛkwɪzɪt
Ex: Public support is a prerequisite for/to the success of this project.
They had to agree to certain conditions as a prerequisite of being lent the money.
Si les conditions sont remplies
If all conditions are met
Se trotter dans la tête
To run through someone’s head/mind
(adjective) figurative (without interruption)
-> fluide
-> sans à-coups, sans heurts, sans accroc
happening without any sudden changes, interruption, or difficulty
seamless
Ex:
The intention is to achieve a seamless transition with a continuity of management.
figuré (réglé, parfait)
ready
set / all set
in perfect running order (expr)
A formal way of saying “because”
in that
Ex: This research is important in that it confirms the link between aggression and alcohol.
He was unusual as a supervisor in that he didn’t try to control how the work was done.
Another way of saying “in order to”
So as to
Ex: I always keep fruit in the fridge so as to keep flies off it.
Quel mot veut dire “encerclé” ?
- (surrounded or within a circle)
-> encerclé, entouré
-> inscrit dans un cercle - (word, image: having a circle around it)
-> entouré
-> entouré d’un cercle
- encircled
- circled
figurative (mental burden) to accept that you are responsible for something bad or difficult
-> endosser
-> assumer
-> faire face à
to shoulder
ex: It is women who mainly shoulder responsibility for the care of elderly and disabled relatives.
Phrasal verb
1. To start an activity with a particular aim
-> To intend
-> chercher à faire / entreprendre de faire qch
- To give the details of something or to explain it, especially in writing, in a clear, organised way
->exposer, présenter
To set out (with/ to)
Ex:
1. She set out with the aim of becoming the youngest ever winner of the championship.
They set out to discover a cure for cancer.
- to give the details of something or to explain it, especially in writing, in a clear, organized way
Phrasal verb
- to accept a particular job or responsibility - to agree to do
-> assumer, prendre en charge - to compete against or fight someone
->affronter
-> s’en prendre à, s’attaquer - to employ someone
-> embaucher
take on
Ex:
1. She took too much on and made herself ill.
- The government took on the unions and won.
- She was taken on as a laboratory assistant.
Phrasal verb
to find out more about something, or take more action connected with it
follow something up
ex:
The idea sounded interesting and I decided to follow it up.
He decided to follow up on his initial research and write a book.
Phrasal verb
to use something to discover if it works or if you like it
try something out
Phrasal verb
to admit that you were wrong or that you have been defeated
-> To concede
back down
informal idiom
To feel healthy or well again
be (as) right as rain
Ex:
You just need a good night’s sleep, and then you’ll be right as rain again.
Idiom
to say the things you are expected to say, sometimes when you do not mean them
Make (all) the right noises
Ex: He made all the right noises about my audition but I couldn’t tell if he was genuinely impressed.
Idiom informal
If you say that something bad …. …, you mean that that person deserves it
serve someone right
Ex:
“He hit me!” “It serves you right. You shouldn’t have been so mean to him