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
Idiom:
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
-> If you …. … …. …. something difficult or unpleasant, you learn to accept and deal with it
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.
Sens figuré pour dire : 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
something good that happens to you by chance
-> un coup de chance
A stroke of luck
(small spot of [sth])
-> (de poussière, …) grain de [qch]
-> (saleté) petite tâche
a speck of [sth]
What are the prepositions with the noun “rise” ?
Rise in or to
Ex:
a 5 percent rise in inflation
Her rapid rise to fame/power/popularity, etc. meant that she made many enemies.
What are the prepositions going with the verb “categorise” ?
Categorise sb/sth as sth
-> You can categorize your company’s strategy as a reactor, defender, analyzer, or prospector.
Categorise sth into sth
-> The Trade Reform Programme can be categorized into six major areas of activity.
Be categorised by sth
-> The view that people are best categorized by their socioeconomic status has never been popular in the United States.
A feeling of great respect sometimes mixed with fear or surprise
-> impressionné par, ébahi
-> bouche bée, en admiration devant [qqn/qch]
(noun) awe
-> (in) awe (of) sb/sth
Ex:
I’ve always held musicians in awe.
As children, we were rather in awe of our grandfather
What are the prepositions around the word “response” ?
(in) response (to)
What are the prepositions with the word “research” ?
Research (into/on)
Informal synonym of “occur to” ?
Dawn on (informal) -> venir à l’esprit de
->If a fact dawns on you, you understand it after a period of not understanding it
Ex: I was about to pay for the shopping when it suddenly dawned on me that I’d left my wallet at home.
Occur to (formal)
-> If a thought or idea occurs to you, it comes into your mind
Ex: It never even occurred to us that he hadn’t been invited.
What verb is the same as nag ?
-> harcerler qqn pour avoir qch
-> harceler qqn pour qu’il fasse
Pester [sb] (for [sth] /to do [sth])
-> to behave in an annoying manner towards someone by doing or asking for something repeatedly
-> harceler qqn pour qu’il fasse qch ou pour avoir qch
Ex: John has been pestering her to go out with him all month.
Nag (at/ about / to do)
-> to criticize or complain often in an annoying way, especially in order to try and make someone do something
Ex: If you stop nagging at me, I might actually do it.
Other way of saying to exaggerate ?
To overstate [sth]
Other way of saying essentially ?
Inherently
-> fondamentalement, intrinsèquement
Other way of saying evaluate?
To assess
Other way of saying claim?
Contention
-> affirmation, assertion
ATTENTION, peut aussi signifier une dispute, démêlé, conflit ou discorde
informal (spend, pay)
-> payer, débourser
-> dépenser
shell [sth] out
shell out [sth]
(Noun)
1. (Lack of generosity)
-> avarice
- (unkindness)
-> méchanceté
meanness
(noun)
inefficacité
manque d’efficacité
inefficiency
(flow slowly)
-> couler, couler goutte à goutte
-> dégouliner
Trickle (down/from/ out of)
Ex: Blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth
Idiom
-> To misunderstand something
-> To not understand a situation correctly
To get hold of the wrong end of the stick
Ex: My mum got the wrong end of the stick and thought that Jim was my boyfriend
To discover something secret or hidden
-> découvrir, mettre au jour
To uncover
Ex:
The investigation uncovered evidence of a large-scale illegal trade in wild birds
Difference between “elevate the prestige” and “enhance the prestige” ?
Elevate the prestige: To raise the level of prestige, implying a significant upward movement from a lower to a higher status
Enhance the prestige: To improve or add to the prestige, suggesting refinement or incremental improvement.
-> Connotation: Implies a more gradual or refined process of improvement. It can be used to describe actions that add to the existing prestige, making it better or more impressive.
Adverb
-> in a way that relates to how people, situations, or things seem to be, rather than how they are inside
-> externally, on the outside
-> extérieurement / en apparence
Outwardly
-> Outwardly, he seemed happy enough
Idiom
-> to start dealing with life and problems again after you have had a very exciting time, or to make someone do this
-> figurative (be realistic)
come down to earth
Ex:
He came down to earth with a real bump when he was forced to get his first job.
person who keeps or collects
-> collectionneur invétéré
-> entasseur compulsif
hoarder
The limit within which someone can achieve something
Beyond/ out of (my) reach
Ex: An expensive trip like that would be completely beyond/out of (my) reach
-> (= I would not have enough money to pay for it)
Within someone’s reach
Ex: After years of saving, the car was at last within (her) reach
-> (= she had enough money to pay for it)
Idiom: something that happened only once or for a short time and was not repeated
A flash in the pan
Ex:
Sadly, their success was just a flash in the pan.
Idiom :
In the same way as
As with
Ex: As with his earlier movies, the special effects in his latest film are brilliant.
Idiom:
In addition to someone or something else
along with someone/something
Ex:
Along with her co-authors, she argues that autism can often help people to understand animals.
He created several great fight scenes, along with an amazingly realistic crash sequence.
Phrase:
To be offended or made angry by something or someone
Take exception to something/ someone
Ex: Why did you take exception to what he said? He was only joking.
He took exception to criticism about the lack of women on the board of his company.
Idiom:
To give something your attention
Take notice (of something)
Ex: Voters are beginning to take notice of him as a serious candidate.
Idiom:
To have an opinion (about something) : to believe
To take the view
Ex: He takes the view that the economy will improve in the coming year.
Idiom:
Adopt a firm position about an issue
To take a stand
Ex: The teacher decided it was time to take a stand on school uniform and not allow the children to wear trainers in class.
Idiom:
To be the most important thing/ a less important thing
To take first / second place
Ex: Work takes second place.
A result that is obvious to everyone even before it happens
Foregone conclusion
Ex: Democrats so outnumber Republicans here that if you are nominated as a Democrat, it’s a foregone conclusion you will be elected.
Prendre sa retraite
-> pas le verb mais une façon de le dire
take retirement
Ex: Many teachers over the age of 50 are taking early retirement.
Phrase:
almost certainly
-> Selon toute vraisemblance
-> Très probablement
-> Vraisemblablement
In all likelihood
Ex:
In all likelihood, the patient will make a full recovery.
She was younger than her brother and, in all likelihood, more athletically gifted.
Le vernis
varnish
Phrase:
Achieving a level of success that stands out as remarkable and distinctive compared to others
Singularly successful
Ex: The new album has been singularly successful and has reached number one
Phrase:
Cheap compared to other things of the same kind
Keenly priced
Ex:
Designer clothes are more keenly priced in out-of-town retail outlets
Phrase:
In a way that is very shocking or surprising (regarding money)
-> cher
Staggeringly expensive
Ex:
The seats for the rock concert were staggeringly expensive
Phrase:
Someone or something that is important, worth mentioning, or well-known
Of note
Ex:
He has published nothing of note in the last ten years.
Idiom:
Having a good understanding of someone or something
To be in tune with someone/something
Ex:
He is more in tune with his players today, because he has asked them for their opinions
Idiom:
Very cheaply
For a song
Ex:
She bought the bed for a song at an auction
Avoir une deuxième corde à son arc
To have a second string to his/her bow
Idiom:
To express and communicate a particular opinion or feeling about something
strike a note
Ex:
I find it really difficult to strike the right note when I’m writing job applications.
The speech seemed to strike the right note with the crowd and they clapped loudly
Idiom:
It causes people to approve of it or agree with it
To strike a chord
Ex:
Their policy on childcare has struck a responsive chord with women voters.
Her biography struck a chord with quite a few elderly people who had had a similar experience
Is it difficulty to do something or doing something
Difficulty doing
Ex: We had difficulty finding a parking space.
benefits which are not financial
-> avantage
perk
Ex: Peter’s salary isn’t very high, but his job comes with great perks like health insurance and a staff discount.
Wanted by many people and usually of high quality or rare
sought-after (adj)
Ex: At the age of 17 she is already one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses.
Noun:
The act of saying that you approve of or support something or someone
endorsement
Ex:
The campaign hasn’t received any political endorsements.
endorsement of: He hoped to secure quick endorsement of the plan from the president.
- to relax and allow your mind to be free from worry after a period of work or some other activity that has made you worried
- If you …… something that is wrapped around an object, you unfasten it, and if it ……, it becomes unfastened
To unwind
- A glass of wine in the evening helps me to unwind after work.
- In a nearby medical tent, a US Army doctor gently unwinds Metruk’s bandage.
Idiom: An area of shared interests or opinions held by two or more people or groups
-> Points communs
-> (après divergences initiales) terrain d’entente
common ground
Ex:
We started dating because we had a lot of common ground in our likes and dislikes.
When I found out he was also going to Alaska, we were on common ground.
A number of people or things that are put together or considered as …
(way in which a group interacts)
-> dynamique de groupe
group dynamics
Ex:
A good teacher will be aware of the group dynamics in her class.
a number of people or things that are put together or considered as …
Someone without any interest in something
To have no leanings towards ….
Ex: He has absolutely no leanings towards art.
Phrasal verb:
To be interested in something and be likely to do a particular activity
To lean towards something
Ex:
He said he was leaning toward entering the race for governor.
Idiom:
To be attractive or different enough to be noticed by people
Catch someone’s eye
Ex: It was the unusual colour of his jacket that caught my eye
Idiom:
To be good at noticing a particular type of thing
Have an eye for
Ex:
She has an eye for detail
Idiom:
To ignore something that you know is wrong
Turn a blind eye (to)
Ex:
Management often turn a blind eye to bullying in the workplace
Idiom:
To be famous and written about in newspapers and magazines and seen on television
Be in the public eye
Adverb:
Until now or until a particular time
-> jusqu’ici, jusqu’à présent, à ce jour
Hitherto
Economic aid has been offered to hitherto depressed people.
Influential or influencial
Influential
He is wrong/right + ?
wrong/right to do sth
He is lucky + -ing or to
Lucky to do sth
It’s difficult + ?
He has difficulty + ?
It’s difficult to do something
He has difficulty doing something
Adjective:
1. (that blinds)
-> aveuglant, éblouissant
- figurative (impressive)
-> éblouisant, éclatant, impressionant
dazzling
Ex:
Daisy put her hand up to shade her eyes from the dazzling light.
The actor has had a dazzling career.
Compound word:
(astounding, impressive)
-> impressionnant, imposant
Awe-inspiring
Ex:
The asteroid shower was an awe-inspiring sight.
A family who or which?
A family who
Adjective:
1. (submissive)
-> servile
- (unoriginal)
-> sans aucune originalité
slavish
Ex:
1. The slavish assistant did whatever her boss directed, no matter how demeaning it was.
2.The musical composition was slavish and uninspired.
Adjective
(idiotic, mindless)
-> stupide, sot, bête
fatuous
Ex:
I’m tired of James just sitting around and playing fatuous video games.
A fatuous idea
Noun:
1. a building or place that is easily recognised, especially one that you can use to judge where you are
-> (building, geography) monument
- (in directions) point de repère, repère
landmark
- The Statue of Liberty is a major American landmark.
- The big oak tree made an excellent landmark for people trying to find the local convenience store.
What is the opposite of to value ?
To devalue
Something, such as swimming pool or shopping centre, that is intended to make life more pleasant or comfortable for the people in a town, hotel, or other place
-> usually plural
amenity
Ex:
The council has some spare cash, which it proposes to spend on public amenities.
Noun:
the part of your character that affects your moods and the way you behave
temperament
/ˈtɛmpərəmənt
Ex: a fiery temperament
Noun:
The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change
integrity
Ex: No one doubted that the president was a man of the highest integrity.
- Noun: (problem-solving in an emergency)
-> présence d’esprit - Adj: (able to react rapidly)
-> vif,vive
-> réactif, réactive
- noun: quick thinking
- adj: quick-thinking
Ex:
1. Thanks to his quick thinking we escaped the car accident alive.
- The quick-thinking boy saved his mother’s life by calling an ambulance.
adj: (for extended time period)
-> qui dure depuis longtemps
Long-running
Adj:
1. (myopic)
- figurative (failing to plan ahead)
-> (figuré: personne) sans vision à long terme
-> (politique, calcul) irréfléchi / à courte vue
short-sighted
ex:
2. Congress’ bill to reduce taxes on greenhouse gas companies was shortsighted.
Adj:
(carefully considered)
-> bien pensé, bien conçu
well-thought-out
adj:
figurative (having foresight)
-> (politique,…) à long terme
-> (personne) prévoyant
far-sighted
Idiom:
a very short distance
a stone’s throw (from/away)
Ex:
The apartment is just a stone’s throw from the sea.
“Is your house far from here?” “No, it’s only a stone’s throw away.”
Comment dire en anglais “à peine …”
Scarcely/Hardly/No sooner + present/futur/past perfect + present/futur/past tense
Idiom:
something that you say that means that other people always seem to be in a better situation than you, although they may not be
There always appears to be a better situation than your own
The grass is always greener on the other side
Ex: I sometimes think I’d be happier teaching in Spain. Oh well, the grass is always greener on the other side!
Idiom
Something happening that it is completely unexpected
Out of the blue
Ex: One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.
Idiom
Not possible
Not part of the picture or not considered
Rather than something being unachievable or unavoidable
Out of the frame
Ex: All those things I used to take for granted, but which are totally out of the frame at the moment
Idiom:
An easy and happy existence
Things aren’t perfect
Life is not a bed of roses
Idiom:
Situation where you destroy all possible ways of going back to that situation
burn your boats/bridges
Ex: Well, I want to get out for a while but not burn my boats completely, so Meg’s proposal is perfect
Idiom:
To summarise
In a nutshell
Idiom:
a situation in which you can enjoy the advantages of two very different things at the same time
the best of both worlds
Ex: She works in the city and lives in the country, so she gets the best of both worlds.
Idiom:
to enjoy yourself or continue working as normal and not give any attention to something important and unpleasant that is happening that you should be taking action to prevent
Fiddle while Rome burns
Ex:
Environmentalists claimed governments were fiddling while Rome burned.
Phrase:
1. It is in its usual or correct position
- Organised
In place
Phrase:
If you ……. …… to do something, you have not done it
-> Other way of saying “I haven’t done it yet”
Have yet to
Ex: They have yet to make a decision.
Peters has yet to choose his next project.
Idiom:
quietly so that other people cannot hear exactly what you are saying
Under your breath
Ex:
He muttered something under his breath.
Adjective:
very unpleasant or rude
-> odieux, ignoble, détestable
obnoxious (to)
Ex:
Some of his colleagues say that he’s loud and obnoxious.
When she’s in a bad mood she’s obnoxious to everyone
Idiom:
to avoid someone or something that seems unpleasant, dangerous, or likely to cause problems
-> (keep away) rester à l’écart
steer clear of someone/something
Ex:
Her speech steered clear of controversial issues.
They warned their children to steer clear of drugs.
- informal (discourage, deter)
-> décourager, dégoûter [qqn] (de [qch]) - (delay until later)
-> repoter, décaler, remettre à plus tard - (cause to dislike)
-> dégoûter [qqn] de [qch]
- put [sb] off
ex: I don’t want to put you off, but that make of car you’re thinking of buying is very hard to maintain. - put [sth] off
ex: I’m busy this afternoon; can we put our meeting off until tomorrow? He was too busy in the morning, so he put his appointment off until the afternoon. - put [sb] off [sth]
ex: That was disgusting; it has put me off my dinner.
Phrase:
- If a vehicle is ………………….., it is working as it should and can be legally used
- When you are …………………….., you are driving or travelling, usually over a long distance
- If a group of actors or musicians are ……………….., they are travelling to different places to perform
on the road
Ex:
- My car was in the garage for a week, but it’s now back on the road.
- We’d already been on the road for six hours and were quite tired
- Most rock groups spend two or three months a year on the road
- (brief visit)
-> (long voyage) escale
-> (voyage plus court) arrêt, halte - (stopping place)
-> (long voyage) escale
-> (voyage plus court) arrêt/halte
stop-over
Ex:
1. We made a short stopover in New York, but unfortunately we didn’t have much time for sightseeing.
2. Seattle was our stopover on our way to Hawaii.
Verb:
To move quickly, with small, short steps
-> (person: move hurriedly) se précipiter / se hâter
-> (hurry along) se hâter
To scurry
Ex:
The mouse scurried across the floor.
The noise of the explosion sent everyone scurrying back into their homes.
Idiom:
used to show something has happened many times or for long periods of time
-> (often) bien souvent, bien des fois
Many’s the time
Ex:
Many’s the time I’ve been tempted to hand in my notice.
Phrase:
To be offended or made angry by something or someone
-> s’offusquer de [qch]
take exception to something/someone
Ex:
I take exception to that comment.
He took exception to criticism about the lack of women on the board of his company.
Idiom:
If something … … …, it causes people to approve of it or agree with it
-> figurative (resonate with [sb]’s feelings) toucher la corde sensible
strike a chord (with [sb])
Ex:
His speech when he came on stage certainly struck a chord with the audience, who loved it
(important)
-> notable, important
Adj: of note
Verb:
to do something or go somewhere very slowly, taking more time than is necessary
->(move without haste) trainer
To dawdle
ex: Victor is nearly always late because he dawdles so much.
To have more occasions or opportunities?
To have more opportunities
We don’t say “it is less considered than” but we say…?
It is given less importance or it is taken less seriously
Adj:
An …… object is difficult to move or handle because it is heavy, large, or a strange shape
-> peu maniable
-> encombrant
unwieldy
Ex: The heavy old rifle was an unwieldy weapon
Idiom:
Used to say what someone is really like
-> au fond, fondamentalement
at heart (adv)
Ex:
He had dozens of friends, but he was a private person at heart.
At heart, he’s a revolutionist, an anarchist, a nihilist.
He remained at heart a rover.
Phrasal verb:
to wear informal clothes in a situation where people often wear more formal clothes
to dress down
Ex: She always tried to dress down on her first date with a man
Idiom (informal):
to be unable to stop watching something
to be glued to something
Ex:
We were glued to the television watching the election results come in.
Idiom:
to avoid someone or something that seems unpleasant, dangerous, or likely to cause problems
-> (keep away) rester à l’écart
-> informal (avoid) éviter
To steer clear of someone/something
Ex: Her speech steered clear of controversial issues
Difference between outlay and outgoings ?
-> Both mean “dépense”
The main difference between the two terms is that “outlay” usually refers to a single sum of money spent on a specific occasion, while “outgoings” refers to regular, repeated expenses (such as a business’s operating costs, or a person’s household expenses).
Idiom (informal)
-> to annoy someone
To get up someone’s nose
Ex: People who drive like that really get up my nose
Verb:
To make a choice, especially of one thing or possibility instead of others
To opt (for)
Ex: Mike opted for early retirement
Phrasal verb:
To happen, or start to happen
Come about
Ex: How did the problem come about in the first place?
Phrasal verb:
To separate into several pieces
come apart
Ex: I picked up the book and it came apart in my hands.
My boots are coming apart at the seams.
Phrasal verb:
A2:to visit someone in their home
C1: to become conscious again after an accident or operation
C2: to change your opinion of something, often influenced by another person’s opinion
Come round
Ex:
A2:Come round tonight and we’ll watch a video.
C1 (from):She hasn’t come round from the anaesthetic yet.
C2: He’ll come round to my point of view, given a bit of time.
Phrasal verb:
C1: 1.to come to a place, move from one place to another, or move towards someone
2. to influence someone suddenly to behave in a particular way:
C2:to seem to be a particular type of person
Come over
Ex:
C1: 1.Is your family coming over from Greece for the wedding?
2.I’m sorry! That was a stupid thing to say - I don’t know what came over me.
C2: I watched the interview and felt he came over as quite arrogant
Phrase:
to stop working in order to show your support for other workers who are on strike
Come out in sympathy with someone
Ex: The railway workers came out in sympathy with the miners.
Premier arrivé, premier servi
first come, first served
idiom:
To produce what is wanted
Come up with the goods
Ex: What they promise sounds impressive enough - let’s see if they come up with the goods.
Phrasal verb:
To receive blame or criticism
Come in for something
Ex: The director has come in for a lot of criticism over his handling of the affair.
Adjective:
Not spoiled
unmarred (by)
Ex:
The national park remains unmarred by the extensive industrial development in the country.
Despite there being a lot of graffiti elsewhere, the mural has remained largely unmarred.
Adjective:
Having to stay in bed because of illness or injury
bedridden
Ex: His aunt was 93 and bedridden
Adjective:
having or showing a wish to harm someone because you think that they harmed you; unwilling to forgive
-> (seeking revenge)
vindictive
Ex: In the movie “Cape Fear”, a lawyer’s family is threatened by a vindictive former prisoner.
- (cooking appliance)
-> (appareil) cuisinière
-> (portable) réchaud - (heating appliance)
-> (appareil de chauffage) poêle
stove
Ex:
1. Henry put the kettle on the stove to heat the water.
2. We are having a stove fitted in our living room.
inimaginable or unimaginable
unimaginable
to be under control or to get under control?
To be under control
What is wrong with the following sentence?
-> If what I’ve already exposed remains normal,…
The verb
-> We don’t use expose in English
-> Instead : explain
Difference between thankfully and hopefully
Hopefully: Hopefully is for something you wish to happen or hope to happen
Thankfully: you are grateful or express pleasure or relief. -> related to the present
Difference between mean to and mean doing something
mean to = intend to
Ex: I mean to finish this job by the end of the week!
Mean doing sth = involve having sth
Ex: I’ll have to catch the 7 am train to Nottingham, which means getting up at 5 am. (I need to get up at 5 am.)
Difference between regret to and regret doing
regret to = sorry to …
regret doing = I wish I hadn’t …
Difference between try to and try doing
Try to = Make an attempt
Try doing = Experiment with
Different collocations with the verb help (3)
Help to + infinitive
Ex: I would have helped her to find the right dress
Can’t help + ing
Ex: He can’t help driving fast
Can’t help but + infinitive
Ex: I can’t help but have sweets with me
Collocations with suggest ?
Suggest someone + infinitive
Suggest that …
Collocations with to object
To object to doing sth
Collocations with recommend (3)
To recommend that sb do sth
Ex: They’ve recommended some software to help with the planning process
To recommend for
Ex: She has been recommended for promotion
Recommend doing sth
Ex: I recommend writing your feelings down on paper
Idiom:
In all the most important ways
-> (practically speaking) en pratique, en réalité, dans les faits
-> expression meaning “essentially” or “in effect”. It’s used to say that something has the same outcome or result as something else.
To all intents and purposes
Ex: For all intents and purposes, the project is completed.
The warring sides had, for all intents and purposes, agreed to a ceasefire.
Phrase:
Immediately
tell/see at a glance
Ex:
He could tell at a glance that something was wrong.
She knew, at a glance, that her mother was upset with her.
I like being able to see at a glance how many steps I’ve taken so far today.
Adjective:
Especially a woman or girl -> lively and excitable
vivacious
Ex:
He brought along his wife, a vivacious blonde, some 20 years his junior.
Adjective:
Someone who is eager to own and collect things
They hoard things
acquisitive
Ex: We live in an acquisitive society that views success primarily in terms of material possessions.
Adjective:
1. Not noticeable: seeming to fit in well with the things around
- Someone who likes to remain in the background
unobtrusive
Ex:
1. Make-up this season is unobtrusive and natural-looking.
2.A good waiter is efficient and unobtrusive.
Verb:
To prevent something from happening or someone from achieving a purpose
-> (thwart)
-> (un projet,…) contrarier, contrecarrer
-> (des efforts,…) annihiler
To stymie -> /ˈstaɪ.mi/
Ex: In our search for evidence, we were stymied by the absence of any recent documents.
Adj:
(of a person’s behaviour or way of speaking or writing) too formal and not smooth or natural
-> (unnatural, stiff) guindé, qui manque de naturel
stilted -> /ˈstɪl.tɪd/
Ex: He writes in a formal and somewhat stilted style.
Noun:
Something that is not what it seems to be and is intended to deceive people, or someone who pretends to be something they are not
-> (fake, pretence) imposture, comédie, faux-semblant
-> (personne) charlatan, imposteur
sham
Ex:
It turned out that he wasn’t a real doctor at all - he was just a sham.
They claimed that the election had been fair, but really it was a sham.
Adverb:
in a way that is confident, but is too simple and lacks careful thought
-> (said easily without thinking) facilement, aisément
Glibly
Ex:
He spoke glibly about an economic recovery just around the corner.
We talk glibly about adventure these days, but this is a true adventure.
Adverb:
1. In a way that shows that you are very tired -> avec lassitude / péniblement
- In a way that is boring, or that shows that you are bored with something because you have experienced too much of it -> avec lassitude / péniblement
Wearily
Ex:
1. I dragged myself wearily out of bed at five o’clock this morning.
2.The story is wearily familiar, but with one surprise.
Noun:
treatment in which someone is punished or judged less strongly or severely than would be expected
-> (mercy) clémence
-> (lack of severity) indulgence
Leniency
Ex:
The defending lawyer asked for leniency on the grounds of her client’s youth.
But for the leniency of the referee, the player would have been sent off.
Noun:
Speed and eagerness
-> (great speed) empressement
-> (keenness) empressement
alacrity
Ex: She accepted the money with alacrity.
Adjective:
Suffering severely from the effects of something unpleasant
-> touché par [qch] / frappé par [qch]
stricken (with/by [sth])
Ex: My country has been stricken by war for the past five years.
He has been stricken with grief since the death of his wife.
Adj:
1.Feeling sorry and wishing that something had not happened
-> (sad, regretful) triste, chagrin
2.showing slight sadness about something but not in a serious way
Rueful
Ex: He turned away with a rueful laugh.
Adj:
(literary) alone and unhappy; left alone and not cared for
-> (sad, miserable) triste, mélancolique
-> (lonely, forsaken) seul, abandonné, délaissé
forlorn
Ex:
She looked a forlorn figure standing at the bus stop
Adj:
Completely harmless (=causing no harm)
-> (substance: harmless) inoffensif
-> (remark: not offensive) inoffensif, banal
Innocuous
Ex: Some mushrooms look innocuous but are in fact poisonous
Adj:
Friendly and easy to talk to
-> (friendly, likable) (soutenu) affable, aimable
Affable
Ex:
He struck me as an affable sort of a man
She was quite affable at the meeting
Idiom:
A warning to not do something or to stop doing something
fire a shot across someone’s bow
ex: Airline employees have fired a warning shot across the company’s bows by threatening to strike if higher pay increases are not offered.
Noun:
Hard work, especially work that makes you feel physically tired
->(littéraire) labeur travail
toil
Ex:
Lindi has achieved her comfortable life only after years of hard toil.
Noun:
skill and experience, especially in relation to making objects; a job or activity that needs skill and experience, or something produced using skill and experience
craft
Ex:
the craft of furniture making/sewing/glassblowing
political/literary craft
rural/ancient/traditional crafts
craft workers (= skilled workers)
Adj:
Someone who is … often forgets things or does not pay attention to what is happening near them because they are thinking about other things
-> distrait, tête en l’air, rêveur
absent-minded
Ex: She is kindly but absent-minded, often forgetting appointments and birthdays.
Adj:
Very nervous and easily upset
-> figurative (person: tense, sensitive) très nerveux, avoir la sensibilité à fleur de peau
highly strung
Ex: a highly strung young woman
Adjective:
Too interested in what other people are doing and wanting to discover too much about them
-> informal (person: overly inquisitive) (familier) trop curieux, fouineur
nosy / nosey
Ex: She was complaining about her nosy parents.
A rather nosey woman once asked him about his personal life.
Adj:
Likely to suffer from something or to do something bad
Likely to show a particular characteristic, usually a negative one, or to be affected by something bad, such as damage or an illness
-> (susceptible) enclin à qch
prone to (-ing)
Ex: The coastal region is prone to earthquakes.
“no intention to” or “no intention of” ???
No intention of doing something
Ex: I’m sorry, I had no intention of interrupting the conversation.
phrase:
1.Happening one after another
in a series
2.-> à la queue leu leu
In succession
Ex:
1. This is the seventh year in succession that they’ve won the tournament.
- The students lined up in succession to receive their diplomas
Idiom:
If something must … … … / … … … … be done, it must not be done at any time or for any reason
on no account / on any account
Ex:
Employees must on no account make personal phone calls from the office.
These records must not on any account be changed.
Phrasal verb:
To separate something into its different parts / pieces
Take something apart
Ex:
We took the engine apart to see what the problem was.
Phrasal verb:
To surprise or shock someone so much that they do not know how to behave for a short time
Take someone aback
Ex:
I was a little taken aback at the directness of the question.
The news really took us aback.
Phrase:
People say
Rumour has it (that)
Ex: Rumor has it that she was murdered
adverb, conjunction:
by which way or method
-> (through which) selon lequel, par lequel, au moyen duquel,…
whereby
Ex:
They’ve set up a plan whereby you can spread the cost over a two-year period.
We need to devise some sort of system whereby people can liaise with each other.
adjective :
Food or drink that has a pleasant taste
palatable
Ex:
A very palatable wine
The meal was barely palatable
Expression:
(tending to do)
-> avoir tendance à faire [qch]
prone to doing something
Ex:
Alan is prone to taking days off without bothering to give an explanation.
Idiom (informal):
An obvious problem that no one wants to discuss
-> you mean that there is an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about.
The elephant in the room
Ex: I don’t want to ask the question, but it is the big elephant in the room
Other way of saying “another important point”
A further point of note
Ex: A further point of note is that Connell’s literary texts in emails are responsive in nature
A better way of saying “Were I to pick holes in both texts’ arguments” ?
Were I to question both texts’ arguments OR Were I to challenge the arguments presented in both texts
Difference between on the contrary and in contrast ?
On the contrary = used to show opposition to a previous statement
In contrast = used to show a difference to a previous statement
Difference between “underwhelming” and “disappointing” ?
Underwhelming = did not impress
Ex: If you see a film that didn’t impress you, you can say it was underwhelming
Disappointing = did not meet expectations
Ex: If you were hoping that the film would be good and it wasn’t, then you can also say it was disappointing
having a lot of difficulties doing something, especially because there is not enough time or money
-> one is the adj and the other one is with a collocation
-> 1. en difficulté
-> 2. (être) bien en peine de faire [qch] / avoir du mal à faire qch
- hard-pressed
Ex: The latest education reforms have put extra pressure on teachers who are already hard-pressed.
He knew that if asked to justify himself, he would be hard-pressed.
- hard-pressed to do sth
Ex: Because of shortages, the emergency services were hard-pressed to deal with the accident.
I would be hard-pressed to tell you the capital of Azerbaijan if you asked me.
Idiom:
The only choice that remains after all others have been tried
Last resort
Ex: As a last resort, we could ask your mother to help
Idiom (informal):
Someone or something that is very annoying
a pain (in the neck)
Ex: That child is a real pain in the neck.
Idiom:
To be something that is difficult to do
be a tall order
Ex: Building the bridge in time for the Olympics will be a tall order.
Phrase;
To remember a piece of information when you are making a decision or thinking about a matter
bear/keep something in mind
Ex; Bearing in mind how young she is, I thought she did really well
It’s important to bear in mind that the respondents are a self-selecting group.
Idiom:
Someone’s behaviour that is unacceptable
beyond the pale
Ex: Her recent conduct is beyond the pale.
Idiom:
To wait patiently for a good opportunity to do something
Bide your time
Ex: He’s just biding his time until a permanent job opens up
Idiom:
To stop yourself from saying something that you would really like to say
Bite your tongue
Ex: I wanted to tell him exactly what I thought of him, but I had to bite my tongue.
Idiom:
To refuse to think about unpleasant facts, although they will have an influence on your situation
bury/have your head in the sand
Ex: You’ve got to face facts here - you can’t just bury your head in the sand
Idiom:
You do something but you just succeed in doing it
By the skin of your teeth
Ex: He escaped from the secret police by the skin of his teeth
Idiom (formal):
Especially or particularly
not least
Ex: We had many things to consider, not least the safety of our children.
Idiom:
If facts … … … , they become known publicly
-> were noticed
Come to light
Ex: Fresh evidence has recently come to light that suggests that he didn’t in fact commit the murder.
Idiom:
To have to stop doing something before it is finished
Cut something short
Ex: Their conversation was cut short by the arrival of more guests.
We had to cut short our holiday because Richard was ill.
Phrase:
To stop someone from talking before they have finished what they were saying
Cut someone short
Ex: He started to explain, but she cut him short.
Taylor began but Anna cut him short.
To fight a war or organise a series of activities in order to achieve something
To wage war on
Ex: Doesn’t the president need Congress’ permission to wage war on another country?
A tall column of air which spins round and round very fast and moves across the land or sea
A whirlwind
Noun used to describe a situation in which a lot of things happen very quickly and are very difficult for someone to control as a ….
whirlwind of
Ex: I had been running around southern England in a whirlwind of activity
He had been swept aside in the whirlwind of reform and anarchy.
Adj:
A …. event or action happens or is done much more quickly than normal
whirlwind
Ex: He got married after a whirlwind romance.
figurative
-> to match or agree with something else
-> (correspond, agree, be consistent with [sth])
-> concorder avec, coïncider avec, correspondre à
tally (with [sth])
Ex: The detective quickly realised that the accounts given by the two witnesses didn’t tally.
The numbers on your spreadsheet don’t tally with ours.
Idiom:
to break the rules in a way that you consider unimportant or not harmful
bend the rules
Ex: You’ve got to know when to bend the rules a little
Phrase:
If you buy something … …, you can return it without payment if it is not satisfactory
-> à titre d’essai
on approval
Ex: The new manager introduced the practice of shipping items on approval
Verb:
to become tired, weaker, or less effective
To flag
Ex: I was starting to flag after the ninth mile.
The conversation was flagging
Adj:
1. (person: ill)
-> souffrant, malade
- (figurative) experiencing difficulty and problems
-> (figuré) mal en point
ailing
Ex:
1. Damion helps elderly and ailing people by delivering their groceries and prescription medications to them.
- the country’s ailing economy
Ted asked me if I could help him fix his ailing car.
Idiom:
To believe something strongly although you cannot explain
Feel it in your bones
Ex: It’s going to be a good summer - I can feel it in my bones
Idiom:
To praise someone or something
Sing the praises of something/someone
Idiom:
If a reason, argument, or explanation … …, it is true
Hold water (mainly used in a negative sense)
Ex: Her alibi just didn’t hold water
Informal
(arouse excitement)
-> provoquer un vif émoi
-> (figuré) faire grand bruit
-> (positif) faire sensation
-> (scandale) faire des vagues
Cause a stir
Phrasal verb:
To come from or be a result of something
Spring from something
Ex: His need to be liked obviously springs from a deep-rooted insecurity
Phrasal verb:
To start or develop as the result of something
Stem from something
Ex: Her problems stem from her difficult childhood
Their disagreement stemmed from a misunderstanding
phrasal verb:
- To do or complete something, especially that you have said you would do or that you have been told to do
- To perform or complete a job or activity; to fulfill
To carry out
Ex:
- The hospital is carrying out tests to find out what’s wrong with her.
It’s time they carried out a proper review of teacher’s salaries. - I was elected to carry out a program, the governor said, and I have every intention of carrying it out.
Phrasal verb:
to spend a lot of money on buying things, especially things that are pleasant to have but that you do not need
To splash out (something)
Ex: They splashed out £3,000 on a holiday.
Verb:
If you …. your words or actions with something else, you say or do this other thing first
To preface
Ex: Each work is prefaced by a descriptive note and concludes with an author’s note
I should like to preface my response with the following observation.
Idiom:
To damage the good relationship that two people or groups of people have
Drive a wedge between someone
Ex: It doesn’t make sense to let things that happened in the past drive a wedge between us now
Phrase:
Introduce a statement that is the opposite to what is thought to be true by most ordinary people.
Contrary to popular belief
Contrary to popular belief, bread is not the best thing for birds
Noun:
Something that happens as a result of other actions, events, or decisions
The upshot
Ex: The upshot of the discussions is that there will be no layoffs.
Formal:
-To make it more likely that something is true
- To believe or accept that something is true
Lend credence to something
Ex: Some of his actions as president lend credence to the allegations
I do not lend much credence to theories that he was brain damaged
Difference between “increase in…” and “increase of…” ???
You use the preposition “in” after the noun “increase” when you talk about what increases
Ex: This increase in production is significant.
This increase of 30% in production is significant.
As for the preposition “of” after this noun, you use it with a number or percentage; the amount by which something is increased.
Ex: This increase of 30% in production is significant.
Phrasal verb:
to avoid becoming involved in something, or to stop someone or something becoming involved in something
keep (someone/something) out of something
Ex:
I prefer to keep out of arguments about money.
Keep me out of this!
Phrasal verb: Especially the collocation that I have wrong
To help to cause an event or situation
Contribute to something
Ex: Smoking contributed to his early death
Idiom (informal):
used to say that a decision, action, etc. is sudden and done without any planning
On the spur of the moment
Ex: We hadn’t planned to go away - it was one of those spur-of-the-moment decisions.
We just jumped in a car on the spur of the moment and drove to the seaside.
Difference between “set your mind on something” and “set your mind to something” ???
To set your mind on something is to make a goal for yourself. The “something” is the objective you will work to achieve. (Also “have your mind set on something”).
To set your mind to something is to collect your thoughts and concentrate wholly on what you are doing at that time. (Also “put your mind to something”).
Phrase:
Saying or showing the opposite
To the contrary
Ex:
proof/evidence to the contrary: For a long time it was thought to be a harmless substance, but we now have proof/evidence to the contrary.
Despite reports to the contrary, she seems to be coping well in prison.
Adjective:
Strongly disliking or opposed to
Averse (to)
Ex: Few people are averse to the idea of a free holiday.
I’m not averse to (= I like) the occasional glass of champagne myself.
Idiom:
To be going to do something very soon
Be on the point of (doing) something
Ex: As we were on the point of giving up hope, a letter arrived.
She was so tired that she was on the point of collapse.
Adjective + collocation :
liking, interested in, or wanting (to do) something very much
Keen on
Ex: She’s keen on playing tennis.
He doesn’t seem all that keen on being here, honestly.
UK My son’s mad keen on cycling.
Difference between egoist and egoistic???
Egoist = noun
Egoistic = adjective
Phrasal verb:
To value a skill or good quality that you have
To pride yourself on something
Ex: He prides himself on his loyalty to his friends.
Idiom:
Responsible for something or someone
In charge (of something/someone)
Ex: Who’s in charge here?
The teacher put me in charge of organizing the project.
Phrasal verb:
to use someone or something to provide the money or food that you need to live
Live off someone/something
Ex: He only agreed to marry her so he could live off her money.
All his life he had lived off his father.
She has an inheritance to live off so she doesn’t need to work.
Phrase:
if something happens
In the event of something
Ex: In the event of a strike, the army will take over responsibility for firefighting.
We need to work out how we would communicate in the event of a large-scale disaster.
There would be an increase in the demand for vaccines in the event of a flu pandemic.
Phrase:
To suddenly become better or worse
Take a turn for the better/worse
Ex:
Their relationship took a turn for the worse when he lost his job.
I’m pleased to say things have taken a turn for the better at work.
The company’s fortunes seem to have taken a turn for the better.
Phrase:
The ability to express yourself well
Turn of phrase
Ex: She has a nice turn of phrase, which should serve her well in journalism.
Idiom:
To not know what to do or who to ask for help
Not know where/which way to turn
Ex: When both her parents died, she didn’t know which way to turn.
Idiom:
To have a red face because you are embarrassed
Go/turn beetroot (also go as red as a beetroot)
Ex: Whenever I talked about his past life, he would go beetroot.
Idiom:
to not show any emotion when you are told something bad or when something bad happens
Not turn a hair
Ex:
I was expecting him to be horrified when he heard the cost but he didn’t turn a hair.
Phrase:
to move about from side to side or turn a lot in bed, especially because you cannot sleep
Toss and turn
Ex: I was tossing and turning all night.
When I wake up around three I know I’m going to be tossing and turning till morning.
Phrase:
When a number of people … … …, they do the same thing one after the other
Take it in turn(s) to do something
Ex:
We took it in turns to ride the pony.
They took it in turns to keep watch.
Idiom:
A surprising or unexpected event
a turn-up for the book(s)
Ex: Well, that’s a turn-up for the books - I never thought he’d get the job.
if you think about a problem, feeling, or event … … … … … …, you think about it some time later and in a calmer or more practical way than was possible at the time it happened
In the cold light of day
Ex: in the cold light of day it all seemed so ridiculous
Difference between satisfying and satisfactory???
“Satisfactory” means that something is adequate, or acceptable. Whereas “satisfying” means that something meets your needs or requirements and has positive associations.
Ex: So what would be the difference between a “satisfactory” meal and a “satisfying” one?
In the first case the meal was ok, in the second case it was one that you enjoyed.
Adjective:
Needing or using a lot of physical or mental effort or energy
-> (requiring strength) fatigant, éprouvant, ardu
-> (energetic, vigorous) vigoureux, énergique
Strenuous
Ex: He rarely does anything more strenuous than changing the channels on the television.
Strenuous efforts were made throughout the war to disguise the scale of civilian casualties.
Verb (formal):
to cause an event or situation to happen by making a set of actions or a formal process begin
To instigate ([sb] to do [sth])
Ex: The government will instigate new measures to combat terrorism.
The revolt in the north is believed to have been instigated by a high-ranking general.
Idiom:
If someone or something … … …, they successfully deal with a very difficult problem
to be able to continue doing something despite serious problems
To weather the storm
Ex: Will the ambassador be able to weather the storm caused by his remarks?
Verb (informal):
To trick or deceive someone, often by confusing them
-> embobiner
To bamboozle
Ex: Don’t get bamboozled by all the jargon.
She was bamboozled into telling them her credit card number.
Adj:
Calm and able to deal easily with difficult situations
Able to be calm in difficult situations
level-headed
Ex: I have always regarded him, when he came to use his imagination, as being pretty level-headed.
Davies has another level-headed contribution to make to a very live current debate in the early modern period.
Noun:
The quality of being new and unusual
Something that has not been experienced before and so is interesting
Novelty
Ex: The novelty of these toys soon wore off and the children became bored with them.
-> The novelty is wearing off
-> The novelty is starting to wear off
-> The novelty has worn off
Tourists are still a novelty on this remote island.
Adverb:
With only a small number or amount of people or things
Sparsely
Ex: Sparsely furnished/populated
The event was sparsely attended
Adverbe:
In a way that suggests a positive and successful future
Auspiciously
Ex: The day did not begin auspiciously.
Our holiday didn’t start auspiciously - the flight was delayed for 12 hours.
Adverbe:
Happily and without feeling or showing any worry, especially when there is a reason to be worried
-> gaiement, allègrement
Blithely
Ex: She blithely agreed to the contract without realizing what its consequences would be.
A blithely optimistic 75% of the students believed that they would one day become millionaires.
adjective:
Covering a large area; having a great range
extensive
Ex: Extensive grounds /repairs
Her knowledge of music is extensive (= she knows a lot about music).
The wedding received extensive coverage in the newspapers (= it was written about a lot).
Difference between prized and valued
Prized = highly valued, cherished
Valued = having a value, esteemed
Difference between considerably and significantly
Considerably: refers to quantity like considerably large
Significantly: refers to importance
Difference between deduce and infer
Deduce: implies you logically and scientifically coming to a conclusion
Infer: implies a slight logical leap to come to a conclusion. Like you had to put some information together
Phrasal verb:
When something unpleasant … … , it begins and seems likely to continue in a serious way
-> s’installer
Set in
Ex:
This rain looks as if it has set in for the rest of the day.
If you get bitten by a dog, you have to make sure the wound is cleaned well, or an infection could set in.
Difference between change and shift
Shift; to move something/someone from one position/place to another a small distance
to means a slight change in position, direction or tendency
Change:to become different
To transform in one, or in any of the ways that something/someone can be transformed
Difference between extended or extensive?
Extended: may mean made larger, or long or longer than usual
Extensive: Means covering or affecting a large area
Idiom:
If you … … … or if you … … … as saying something, you say it publicly and officially and it is written down.
go on record
Ex:
Idiom:
To make one’s opposition to or disapproval of someone or something known or heard.
To raise an objection (to someone or something)
Ex:
Her parents raised an objection to the wedding because of her fiancé’s reputation.
We won’t raise any objections, so long as it’s understood that your firm will be covering all the applicable fees.
Phrase:
To try to make something succeed, usually by working hard
Make a go of something
Ex:
She’s really making a go of her new antique shop.
I can’t see him ever making a go of accountancy.
Phrase:
If someone … … … … …, they start saying or doing something that is not directly connected with what they were saying or doing before
go off at a tangent
Ex: The conversation went off at a tangent
Verb- informal:
to show that something is less important, less good, or less true than it has been made to appear
Debunk
Ex:
debunk a myth: The writer’s aim was to debunk the myth that had grown up around the actress.
Phrasal verb:
- To avoid dealing with something that is unpleasant or difficult
- To defend yourself successfully against an attack, criticism, or some other unwanted thing
fend something off
Ex:
- Somehow she managed to fend off the awkward questions
- He’s an international celebrity with a staff to help fend off reporters. / fend off criticism, blows, accusations
Phrasal verb:
To do something actively and enthusiastically
Throw yourself into something
Ex: She’s thrown herself into this new job
Noun:
behaviour that makes someone believe something that is not true
pretence
Ex:
I can’t “keep up the pretence” (= continue pretending) any longer.
They “made absolutely no pretence of” being interested.
Phrasal verb:
To say something suddenly and without thinking, usually because you are excited or nervous
blurt something out
blurt out a problem, a secret
Ex:
He blurted everything out about the baby, though we’d agreed to keep it a secret for a while.
Phrasal verb:
When a person … … …, they refuse to talk about things that make them angry or worried.
bottle something up
bottle up a problem, emotions
Ex: Feelings that had been bottled up for years came flooding out.
Phrasal verb:
If you … …feelings or tears, you force yourself not to show how angry or upset you are
choke something back
choke back tears, emotions
Ex: Choking back my anger, I tried to speak calmly.
Idiom:
to pretend to be happier, less poor, etc. than you really are, because you do not want people to know how bad your situation is
Keep up appearances
Ex: They were very unhappily married but kept up appearances for the sake of their children.
Phrasal verb:
To defeat or disprove
Shoot down (an argument, accusations)
Ex: He shot down my argument
Phrasal verb:
to treat (something) as not important : to ignore (something)
sweep aside
sweep aside an argument, accusations, criticism
Ex:
He swept aside questions about his son’s arrest.
He swept aside their objections, refusing to change his plans.
Phrasal verb:
to try to get information or understand a meaning that is hidden or not clear
-> extraire
-> faire dire [qch] (à [qqn])
Tease out a problem, a secret
Ex: It took me a while to tease the truth out of him.
Phrasal verb:
If you … … something that you have written or said, you make it less forceful, severe, or offensive.
tone down something
Ex: The foul language in the original play has been toned down for television.
Phrasal verb:
If someone … … an emotion, especially a dangerous one such as hatred, or if they whip people up into an emotional state, they deliberately cause and encourage people to feel that emotion.
-> susciter
-> (négatif) attiser, semer
whip up rage, emotions
Ex: He accused politicians of whipping up anti-foreign sentiments in order to win right-wing votes
Idiom:
Getting married
To tie the knot
Idiom:
Look around for someone else
Cast my net
Idiom:
A total surprise
Bolt from the blue
Ex: the job came like a bolt from the blue
Idiom:
Plenty of free time
Time on my hands
Idiom:
In charge
In a position of power or control in a particular situation
To call the tune
Idiom:
In love with
Carry a torch for someone
Ex: Terry has been carrying a torch for Liz for years
Idiom:
Behaved very practically
To prepare for hard work
To roll up your sleeves
Idiom:
Very ill
At death’s door
Idiom:
Ignoring someone
To give someone the cold shoulder
Idiom:
To take control of a situation so that you can deal with it successfully
Get a grip (on)
Idiom:
to be willing to try anything to improve a difficult or unsatisfactory situation, even if it has little chance of success
clutch/grasp at straws
Ex: She offered to take a pay cut to keep her job, but she was just clutching at straws.
If you … … …, you deal with a problem, or do something that is unpleasant, quickly and in a determined way.
Grasp the nettle
Ex: The government should grasp the nettle of devaluation.
Idiom:
to make an effort to understand and deal with a problem or situation
Come/get to grips with something
Ex:
The president has failed to come to grips with the two most important social issues of our time.
I can’t seem to get to grips with this problem.
Idiom:
-Available and ready to be won or taken
- Available
up for grabs
The job was still up for grabs.
adj:
Wrong, not suitable, or not as expected
I could see by the look on their faces that something was amiss.
Phrase:
In order to
So as to
Ex:
I always keep fruit in the fridge so as to keep flies off it.
I stood behind the tree so as to avoid being seen.
Means “within a very few hours”
Within hours
Within hours, the police apprehended the thief
Phrasal verb:
to do (a certain amount of work etc)
to put in
Ex: He put in an hour’s training today.
You ought to have put in more hours on this project
to correct false information
Set the record straight
Ex: I want to set the record straight – I never received the money.
The organisation should set the record straight about how its funds were misused.
Idiom:
To believe that something is very important
Set great store by/on
Ex: Our family sets great store by/on tradition
Idiom:
Although
Much as
Ex: Much as I would like to help you, I’m simply too busy at the moment
Noun:
The beginning
The outset
Ex: I told him at/from the outset I wasn’t interested
Phrasal verb:
Defend something you believe in
stand up for your beliefs, rights, etc.
Ex: Union leaders encouraged the workers to stand up for their rights
Phrasal verb:
Defend someone who is being criticised
Stand up for (someone)
Ex: Lucy was the only who stood up for me
Phrasal verb:
Not change your mind
Stand by your beliefs / your principles / your decision…
Ex: His family are standing by their decision to go ahead with the operation
Phrasal verb:
Do someone’s job for them when they are not there
-> Remplacer
Stand in for (someone)
Ex: Your normal teacher is sick today, so I’m standing in for her
Adj (informal):
relaxed in manner and character; not usually worried about other people’s behaviour or things that need to be done
-> décontracté
-> (familier) relax, cool
Laid back / laid-back / laidback
Ex: I’ve never seen her worried or anxious in any way - she’s so laid-back.
Adjective (formal):
giving a warning
-> d’avertissement
cautionary
Ex: These last comments are more cautionary than critical.
Adjective:
Designed to be folded into a smaller shape or size for easy storage
-> pliant
collapsible
Ex: collapsible chairs
labourious and volunteery ???
No ! It’s laborious and voluntary
Adjective:
Extremely unpleasant
-> (thing: disgusting) dégoùtant, répugnant
-> (person: hateful, abhorrent) détestable, répugnant
-> (views, subject, etc: abhorrent) (avis, sujet…) détestable, répugnant
loathsome
Ex:
He’s a loathsome man.
I found their behaviour loathsome and offensive.
I hope the judge hands down a long sentence to those loathsome individuals.
Idiom:
used to mean the opposite of the stated quality
-> tout sauf
-> tout le contraire
anything but
Ex: She’s meant to be really nice but she was anything but nice when I met her.
The long-term prospects for the economy are anything but comforting.
Collocation:
1. Without someone or something
- Except for someone or something
- Introducting a hypothetical or conditional clause (if it weren’t for or if it hadn’t been for)
But for someone/something
Ex:
1. But for you, I would be completely alone in the world
These banks would have failed but for large-scale government intervention
- The bookcases were empty but for a single dusty volume
He walked along the cliff top, alone but for his thoughts - But for her quick thinking, the accident could have been much worse
Idiom:
To decide to achieve something
To decide on a goal that you want to achieve or something you want to have
set your sights on something
Ex: Jenny has set her sights on winning the competition
Phrase:
Because you are worried that a particular thing might happen
For fear that/of something
Ex:
They wouldn’t let their cat outside for fear that it would get run over.
I didn’t want to move for fear of waking her up.
Can we say in English : I thought interesting to do something ?
NO !
Ex: I thought it would be interesting to go outside this afternoon.
Retenir
-> In the sense of memory
Remember / take away / recall / recollect / retain
Difference between separate and delimitate ?
Separate = widely used and easily understood
-> more fluid and conversational
Delimitate = rare and formal, typically used in technical or academic contexts (e.g., discussing borders, geography, or legal boundaries)
Do we say in English : Refill your battery ?
NO !
Recharge your batteries
Difference between appeal and attractiveness ?
Appeal = the quality of being interesting, engaging, or desirable. It’s broader and often abstract, making it ideal for discussing the general enjoyment or interest of something like sports
Ex: The appeal of sport lies in teamwork and physical fitness
Attractiveness = Focuses more on physical beauty or charm. While it can describe something’s visual or emotional pull
Can I use “to have more consideration towards something” ?
NO! It’s a frenchism !!
To participate in / to get involved with sth
Difference between try to do something and try doing something
Try to do = You make an effort to accomplish something. The focus is on the attempt, often implying that the task might be challenging
Ex: She tried to explain her point (She made an effort to explain it)
Try doing something = You experiment or test doing something to see if it works or solves a problem. The focus is on the action itself rather than the effort
Ex: If the door won’t open, try turning the handle harder (Test this method to see if it works)
Difference between Spark a desire and Ignite a desire ?
-> =
Spark a desire = Suggests starting or triggering a desire, often in a subtle or initial way
-> It implies a small but powerful beginning - like striking a match
Ignite a desire = Suggests fueling or setting a desire ablaze, creating a stronger or more intense feeling
-> It’s more vivid and dramatic than “spark” and implies that the desire has really caught fire and grown stronger
Phrasal verb:
To experience a difficult situation or event
Live through something
Ex: He could never know the pain and fear this child had lived through
Formal way of saying “instead of”
In lieu (of)
Ex: He worked on Sunday and took Monday off in lieu
They gave some books in lieu of payment for the work I did
Adverb:
If someone discusses something … …. , they talk about it so much that it becomes very boring
-> jusqu’à la nausée, jusqu’à l’écœurement
ad nauseam
Ex: He talks ad nauseam about how clever his children are
Adjective:
You describe something as … …. when it is the best example of its type
Par excellence
Ex: This is undoubtedly the cooking chocolate par excellence
Adjective :
Interesting to, aimed at, or affecting only a small number of people
Niche
Ex: MMA is not a niche sport any more
Cars with classic black or grey are easy to resell, but those with red or green interiors are more niche
Noun:
A noisy argument or fight
fracas over
Ex: The prime minister has joined the fracas over the proposed changes
The players got into a scuffle, both benches cleared, and some fans joined the fracas
Noun (formal):
An action that ends something that has been gradually getting worse
Coup de grâce (to)
Ex: Jane’s affair was the coup de grâce to her disintegrating marriage
Difference between take part in something and take place in ???
To take part in (something) = participate in an event
Ex: Teams from all over the world will take part in the championships
To take place = happen
Ex: The next World Championships will take place in South Africa
Difference between undetermined and indeterminate ?
Undetermined = Something is not yet decided, resolved, or established. It implies that the outcome nature, or value is pending or unknown at the moment.
-> The situation has the potential to be determined or clarified with additional information, time, or effort
Ex: The winner of the competition is still undetermined
Indeterminate = Something is vague, uncertain, or inherently undefined. It suggests that the outcome, nature, or value may never be clearly defined or resolvable.
-> There’s an inherent lack of precision or clarity, often due to ambiguity or limitations.
Ex: The shape of the cloud was indeterminate
Adverb:
Certainly and obviously
->fermement, résolument
decidedly
Ex: He was decidedly careful about what he told me
An agreement is looking decidedly difficult according to the newspapers.
Verb (formal)
To make something known publicly, or to show something that was hidden
-> Synonym = divulge (daɪˈvʌldʒ)
To disclose
Ex: The police have disclosed that two officers are under internal investigation.
Plural noun :
Direct and noticeable effects on something
-> percée, incursion
inroads
Ex: Women have made major inroads into this profession over the last 20 years.
Expression:
To start to have a direct and noticeable effect (on something)
-> Pourrait se dire “entamer”
Make inroads/an inroad into
Ex: The government is definitely making inroads into the problem of unemployment
We have not been able to make much of an inroad into the backlog of work
Other way of saying “relate to something” ?
-> Ex: People can relate to this character
Identify with
Ex: People can identify with this character
Adjective:
1. If a reason, argument, etc. is ………, it makes you believe it or accept it because it is so strong
-> (preuve) irréfutable / (argument) convaincant
- Very exciting and interesting and making you want to watch or listen
-> captivant
Compelling
1.
Ex: Compelling evidence
It’s a fairly compelling argument for going.
- Ex: I found the whole film very compelling
A compelling story
Difference between supposition and conjecture ?
Supposition= Assumption or belief that something is true
-> Can be based on limited evidence or reasoning
-> Often used in formal or logical contexts
Conjecture= More of a guess or speculation
-> More about speculative guessing without much evidence
Difference between meticulous and painstaking ?
Meticulous= Describes someone being precise, exact, and detail-oriented
Painstaking= Focuses on the hard work, patience, and effort put into being careful
Ex: You could say that a meticulous person does their work with painstaking effort!
After months of painstaking work, the team finally completed the restoration of the manuscript.
He went through the documents with painstaking care to ensure no errors were missed.
Adjective:
1. Unpleasant or of low quality
-> Malheureux, misérable, pitoyable
- Feeling very ill or very unhappy
- (odious, despicable)
-> misérable, pitoyable, malheureux
Wretched (wre ch ed)
- Ex: A wretched childhood
The people live in wretched conditions, with no running water. - I think I must be coming down with flu - I’ve been feeling wretched all day
- The wretched man is actually taking money from the people who can least afford it.
Idiom (informal):
To suddenly have a lot of unexpected luck
-> avoir de la chance
To strike it lucky
Ex: What would you do if you struck it lucky in the national lottery?
Other way of using contrast in English than “although, even though, albeit,…”
Adjective/adverb + as + subject + verb + Contrasting clause
->Often found in formal or literary English
Ex: Cold as it was, they went for a swim (Although it was cold, they went for a swim)
Strange as it may seem, I agree with him (Although it may seem strange, I agree with him)
Idiom to say “although”
Much as
Ex: Much as I would like to help you, I’m simply too busy at the moment.
Idiom:
To attempt something for the first time
Try your hand at something
Ex: Mike decided to try his hand at tennis
In english : Je suis d’accord avec lui à contrecoeur
I agree with him reluctantly
I reluctantly agree with him
I go along with him, though unwillingly
Noun:
A fault or a failure to reach a particular standard
-> often plural (person: fault, flaw) défaut
-> often plural (plan, system: failing) défaut
shortcoming
Ex: Ben’s enthusiasm and cheerfulness make up for all his other shortcomings.
Like any political system, it has its shortcomings.
Adjective:
1. (of a person) friendly and energetic and finding it easy and enjoyable to be with others
friendly and willing to meet new people
- leaving a place, or leaving a job
leaving a particular job, office, or position
Outgoing
- Sales reps need to be outgoing, because they are constantly meeting personality.
She has an outgoing personality. - Outgoing flights are booked until 15 January.
The outgoing chairman.
Noun:
Inability to remember
-> oubli
-> (d’une personne) étourderie
forgetfulness
Ex: I’m so tired of my forgetfulness and all of the wasted time it has caused me
Noun:
the fact of something being easy to do, get to, etc., or something that is useful and helpful
Also with this word : a shop that sells food, drinks, etc. and is usually open until late
Convenience
Ex: The convenience of online shopping
We offer large parking lots for customers’ convenience
Convenience store
Also: At sb’s convenience = at a time when someone is ready or wants to do something
Not only is she advanced in the ……. of literature, she is also a talented artist.
field
Noun:
The use of machines and computers that can operate without needing human control
automation
Ex: Automation and robotics have decreased the need for a large, highly skilled work force
Adjective:
1.Improved or made simple
-> simplifié
2.Designed or arranged in a way that makes movement easier through air or water
-> profilé, épuré
- A ……. business, process, activity, etc. has been made simpler and more effective by reducing costs, the number of people involved in it, etc.
-> simplifié
streamlined
Ex: 1. a streamlined system / task
- A streamlined shape/appearance
- Our streamlined approach has kept our costs between 20% and 25% lower than those of our competitors.
Adjective:
- Able to continue over a period of time
- Causing, or made in a way that causes, little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time
sustainable
Ex:
1.Solutions put in place now must be sustainable
- A large international meeting was held with the aim of promoting sustainable development in all countries
Developing environmentally sustainable products and services requires significant research
To express or bring attention to worries, doubts, or objections regarding a specific issue, situation, or decision
To raise concern about/over
Adjective:
Ready to do a particular thing at any moment
-> prêt à
-> être prêt à faire [qch]
To be poised for/to
-> to + infinitive
-> for + noun
Ex: The cat was poised for flight as the dog drew nearer
Several fields are poised for significant scientific breakthroughs in the near future.
Noun:
the scientific study of long-term prevalent weather conditions and the factors that influence them
Climate science
Ex: Some of the teachers were also caught out by the rapid advances in climate science.
Noun:
1. A mistake made because of a failure to notice something
-> oubli, omission
2. Responsibility for a job or activity and for making sure it is being done correctly
-> surveillance, supervision
oversight
Ex:
1. They claimed it was simply (an) oversight
- Governmental oversight is essential to ensure ethical standards are upheld.
Verb:
To make something certain to happen
-> assure, s’assurer
To ensure
ex: The role of the police is to ensure that the law is obeyed
Verb:
1. To (cause to) be unable to breathe because you have no air
- To prevent something from happening, being expressed, or continuing
To stifle
Ex:
1. He is said to have stifled his victim with a pillow
- We should be encouraging new ideas, not stifling them
Excessive government control could stifle innovation and slow down progress.
Idiom:
To fail completely
Go down the tubes
Ex: If business doesn’t pick up soon, the company will go down the tubes
Idiom: old-fashioned informal
To lose your temper, to become very angry
To blow a fuse
ex: One more day stuck in the house and she will blow a fuse
Idiom:
If something such as an agreement has ….. …., it involves special demands or limits
Special demands or limitations that affect something such as an agreement
(with/no) strings attached
Ex:
Most of these so-called special offers come with strings attached.
You don’t get anything for free - there are always strings attached.
Idiom:
When people …. …. …. …., they have a different understanding of the same situation
Get your wires crossed
Ex:
Somehow we got our wires crossed because I’d written the 23rd in my diary and Jen had the 16th.
Idiom: Informal
1. to start working or doing something in a more energetic and effective way
- to cause (something) to start working or becoming successful
To get in gear
- We need to get in gear if we want to finish this project on time.
- She finally got her career in gear.
Idiom:
To make someone who is annoyed, worried, or upset feel even worse
-> Remuer le couteau dans la plaie
Twist/turn the knife (in the wound)
Ex: Just to turn the knife a little, he told me he’d seen my old girlfriend with her new man.
Phrase:
involved in the most recent changes in technology and understanding
In the vanguard of sth
Ex: This company is in the vanguard of AI research, developing groundbreaking innovations
Phrase:
Having advantages and disadvantages
A double-edged sword
ex:
Technology is a double-edged sword—it makes life more convenient, but it also raises concerns about privacy and security.
Noun:
Someone who is not an expert in or does not have a detailed knowledge of a particular subject
Layperson (plural: laypeople)
Ex:
Any layperson can sit down at this console and begin doing productive work in minutes.
To the layman these rules may seem unnecessarily complex.
Can you explain in layman’s terms exactly what your job involves?
Instead of saying “effectively controlled by law”, what can I say?
Subject to enough regulations
Phrasal verb:
to touch or make changes to something that you should not, often in order to damage it
tamper with sth
Ex: The files had been tampered with and there were some documents missing.
Tampering with nature
Phrase:
Reason to worry
Cause for concern
Ex:
Is Nikola Jokic’s elbow injury a cause for concern?
There is considerable cause for concern in the whole area
Phrase:
To have to do something because it is your duty
Be duty bound to do something
Ex: We are duty bound to justify how we spend our funds.
I feel duty bound to accompany her to hospital appointments.
Noun (usually plural):
A doubt or feeling of not being able to agree with or accept something completely
Reservation
Ex: Workers and employees shared deep reservations about the wisdom of the government’s plans for the industry.
He accepted my advice without reservation.
Idiom:
to do something that will cause a series of actions to start
Set the wheels in motion
Ex:
I thought a phone call to the right person might set the wheels in motion.
Idiom:
To achieve great success, gain widespread attention, or make a significant impact. It’s often used to describe someone or something that becomes highly influential or outstanding in their field.
Set the world on fire
Ex:
Her debut novel didn’t set the world on fire, but it showed great promise.” (It wasn’t a huge success, but it had potential.)
“With his talent and determination, he’s ready to set the world on fire.” (He’s likely to achieve great success.)
Idiom:
1. To describe a situation where something is about to happen
- To make something possible or likely to happen
Set the scene
Ex:
1. First, let’s set the scene - it was a dark, wet night with a strong wind blowing.
- His resignation set the scene for a company crisis.
Idiom:
To decide to achieve something
Set your sights on something
Ex: Jenny has set her sights on winning the competition
Idiom:
If something, especially a noise,… …. …. … …., it annoys you very much
Set someone’s teeth on edge
ex:
That DJ’s voice really sets my teeth on edge.
Idiom:
to work as hard as other people in a group
Pull your weight
Ex: The others had complained that Sarah wasn’t pulling her weight
Idiom: (informal)
To make an effort to improve your work or behaviour because it is not good enough
Pull your socks up
ex: He’s going to have to pull his socks up if he wants to stay in the team.
Idiom:
To be the opposite of something; to not match or agree with something
Run counter to something
Ex:
Bob’s decision not to take the job ran counter to his family’s expectations.
Her paintings seem to run counter to prevailing ideas about art.
Verb:
to decorate a room or other place for a special occasion by hanging coloured paper, lights, flowers, etc. around it, especially in curves
Noun:
Guirlande
To festoon
Ex: The hall was festooned with Christmas lights and holly.
Noun: festoon
Idiom:
to forget about an important idea or fact because you are thinking too much about other things
To lose sight of something
Ex:
I’m worried that we’re losing sight of our original objectives.
Verb:
B1: to go somewhere with someone
B2: to arrive or appear at a place
C2: to start to exist
If something is …. …., it is developing or improving
Come along
B1: We’re going to the cinema. Do you want to come along?
B2:You wait half an hour for a bus, then three come along at once!
C2: I gave up climbing when my first child came along.
Hassan’s English is really coming along
Compound-adjective:
having existed for a long time
Long-standing
Ex: a long-standing agreement
Compound-adjective:
relaxed and not easily upset or worried
Easy-going
Ex: an easy-going attitude/manner
a friendly, easy-going type of guy
Noun + adjective:
the process of releasing strong emotions through a particular activity or experience, such as writing or theatre, in a way that helps you to understand those emotions
the experience of expressing strong emotions that previously were blocked
Catharsis (noun) - cathartic (adjective)
Ex:
During the feast, not only was the urban space entirely transformed by pageantry, but the inhabitants collectively experienced a common exaltation, a great catharsis.
A cathartic experience
Can we use “main asset” instead of advantage?
Yes, BUT
Asset = refers to something valuable that a person, company, or organization owns or possesses. It can be tangible (like money, property, or equipment) or intangible (like skills, reputation, or knowledge).
Example: Her communication skills are a great asset to the team.
Advantage = refers to a benefit or a superior position that gives someone an edge over others.
Example: Knowing multiple languages gives you an advantage in international business.
Formal way of saying “kids”?
Offspring (uncountable)
Tom’s sister came over on Saturday with all her offspring.
Phrase:
Continuously
At all times
Ex: When you’re at the airport, you should make sure you have your luggage with you at all times.
Phrase:
Something is definitely true and cannot be disputed.
->It is often used to introduce a fact or a strong argument.
It is undeniable that
Ex: It is undeniable that technology has changed the way we communicate
Phrase:
A negative effect or consequence, often used in formal contexts.
-> It describes how something negatively influences a situation.
The adverse impact
Example: The adverse impact of pollution on marine life is well-documented.
Have the gist or get the gist?
Get the gist
Do we say humorist in English?
No, we say comedian
Phrasal verb:
to look or seem the same as surrounding people or things and therefore not be easily noticeable
->s’intégrer
-> se fondre dans
To blend in
Ex:
We tried to blend into the crowd.
They have adopted local customs and tried to blend in with the community.
Idiom:
If you … … …. between two things, you accept parts of both things in order to satisfy some of the demands of both sides in an argument, rather than all the demands of just one side
Strike a balance
Ex: It’s a question of striking the right balance between quality and productivity.
I think there’s a balance to be struck between conforming and standing out.
Synonym of “be different”
Blend in / stand out / distinguish yourself
Words to use regarding climate change
Greenhouse gases / climate change / fossil fuel / finite resources / pristine environment
Other way of saying non-renewable resource?
Finite resources
Adjective:
having your attention completely held by something, so that you cannot think about anything else
Spellbound
Ex: The audience was spellbound as he attempted his daring escape from the water tank.
Adjective (formal):
If a theory or argument is …., it cannot be supported or defended against criticism.
not able to be supported or defended against criticism, or no longer able to continue
Untenable
ex:
The position of the players’ union has become untenable.
An untenable situation
-> Ex: If three people in four no longer support the government, isn’t this an untenable situation?
Verb:
- to cause someone or a group of people to stop supporting and agreeing with you
- to make someone feel that they are different and not part of a group
Alienate (from someone)
- All these changes to the newspaper have alienated its traditional readers.
- Disagreements can alienate teenagers from their families.
Adj:
- (effort: joint, combined)
-> concerté / d’ensemble - (cooperation in a cause)
.> action concertée
-> Phrase: agir de concert
concerted
To take concerted action
Ex:
1. The team made a concerted effort to win the game.
- The Us and the UK took concerted action to prevent the conflict from spreading.
Adj:
- (too large or numerous to say)
-> énorme
-> (nombre) incalculable - (story: not recounted)
-> jamais raconté, jamais révélé
untold
- The children have been warned on untold occasions not to play in the street
- Gerald’s version of the story remained untold until he published his memoirs
Adj:
(lmited) fini, limité, clos
+ pronunciation
finite /ˈfaɪnaɪt/
Ex: There are a finite number of ways we can deal with this problem
What is wrong ?
Way more easier
way more easier -> more is wrong
Also, to be more formal -> much instead of way
-> So much easier
Alternatives to on the one hand / on the other hand?
In one way / in another way
In contrast / alternatively
Is badly seen correct?
NO
we say frown upon
Other way of saying utopist
idealist
-> ideally
-> idealistic,…
What are the differences between “bring on/about/off/in” ?
Bring on -> cause something (often negative) to happen
-> usually refers to illness, trouble, or difficulties
Ex: Stress brought on his headache
Bring about -> cause something to happen (usually a change or result)
-> Used for changes, effects, or outcomes (often positive or neutral)
Ex: The new law brought about significant improvements in education
Bring off -> successfully achieve something difficult
-> Implies overcoming challenges to succeed
Ex: She managed to bring off the deal despite tough negotiations
Bring in -> Introduce or earn
-> Can mean introducing a new law, policy, or system
-> Can also refer to generating income or attracting people.
Example (introducing): The government is bringing in new regulations.
Example (earning): His business brings in a lot of revenue.
Example (attracting): The event brought in thousands of visitors.
Difference between resignedly and reluctantly ?
Resignedly = Suggests acceptance of something unavoidable with little resistance.
-> A person doing something resignedly has accepted their fate, even if they don’t like it
-> Ex: She sighed resignedly and started cleaning the mess, knowing there was no way out of it
Reluctantly = Suggests hesitation of unwillingness to do something, but the person still does it.
-> There may be lingering resistance or displeasure
-> Ex: He reluctantly handed over his phone when the teacher asked for it
Adverb:
In an easily annoyed way
-> avec irritation, avec mauvaise humeur
-> (dire) d’un air irrité
Peevishly
Ex: I thought you might have helped, she replied peevishly
“It’s your own fault” I said peevishly
Phrase:
To start to think about or consider a particular thing or person
Turn your attention to something/someone
Ex: Many countries are starting to turn their attention new forms of energy.
In this new novel, she turns her attention to climate change.
Noun:
(ecology: renewability)
-> durabilité
sustainability
Ex: We’re moving the company towards sustainability in energy
Do we say evolutive?
-> (developmental) évolutif
NO
It’s evolutionary
What’s the preposition that goes with objection ?
Objection to …
Ex: The objection to the legislation was not based on scientific evidence
Can you cite some linking points and arguments?
As opposed to / In the sense that / For this reason
Can you cite some phrases to make generalisations?
On the whole / in general / for the most part / as a rule
Can you cite some phrases related to “being specific” ?
With respect to / in the case of / as regards / in terms of / with the exception of
Can you cite some phrases related to “quantity” ?
A great deal of / to some/a large extent / a large number of
Phrase:
About , concerning
-> Concernant
With respect to
Ex: With respect to what you said, we regret that we are unable to assist you in this matter.
Verb:
to speak to someone or a group of people, often for a long time, in a forceful and sometimes angry way, especially to persuade them
To harangue
ex: He harangued the class for half an hour about not paying attention.
Verb: Informal
to get things, especially money or food, by asking for them instead of buying them or working for them
To scrounge
Ex: Peter never buys anything - he just scrounges (off his friends).
Verb:
To feel very angry but to be unable or unwilling to express it clearly
Seethe
Ex: The rest of the class positively seethed with indignation when Julia won the award.
By the end of the meeting he was seething.
Verb: informal
To pull something forcefully with a quick movement
Yank
Ex: He tripped over the cord and yanked the plug out.
Don’t yank the door like that or you’ll break it
Verb:
To intentionally not obey a rule, law, or custom
-> bafouer, mépriser
Flout sth
Ex: Many motorcyclists flout the law by not wearing helmets.
Any doctor who flouts these rules faces prison.
Idiom: informal
To have an exciting and very enjoyable time with parties, good food and drink, etc.
Live it up
He’s alive and well and living it up in the Bahamas.
Phrasal verb:
To make people forget that you made a big mistake or did something very embarrassing in the past
Live down something
Ex: If you show up with green hair, your parents will never let you live it down.
No one will let me live down my tennis skirt falling down
Phrasal verb:
To experience a difficult situation or event
Live through something
Ex: He could never know the pain and fear this child had lived through
Idiom:
To make money in a clever and usually dishonest way
Live by your wits
Ex: Tom lived on the streets from an early age, but lived by his wits.
Idiom:
In speech but not in writing
by word of mouth
Ex: All the orders were given by word of mouth so that no written evidence could be discovered later.
Difference between set foot in somewhere or set foot on somewhere
Set foot in somewhere = To go to a place
Set foot on somewhere = To land somewhere
Hand in hand but bras dessus bras dessous?
Arm in arm
Ex: We walked arm in arm along the river bank.
Idiom:
One closely behind the other
nose to tail
Ex: The cars were parked nose to tail down the street
What are the two meanings of the idiom: come face to face with someone or something?
- To confront or encounter someone or something directly
Ex: I had been trying to avoid my math teacher, but then I came face to face with her in the cafeteria
- If you come face to face with a bad situation, you suddenly experience it
Ex: Before the deal was fully closed, however, Beaverbrook came face to face with a serious problem
Idiom:
To have just enough money to live on and nothing extra
Live (from) hand to mouth
Ex: My father earned very little and there were four kids, so we lived from hand to mouth
Idiom:
To try very hard to get something you want
To fight tooth and nail
Ex: We fought tooth and nail to get the route of the new road changed
Idiom:
If two people … … …. …., they agree with each other
See eye to eye
Ex: My sisters don’t see eye to eye with me about the arrangements
What are the prepositions for “prohibit” and “interfere”
Prohibit from
Interfere in
Adjective:
(anticipating sth)
-> chargé d’espoir, plein d’espoir
expectant
Ex: With an expectant look, James asked about the event
Verb:
(show enthusiasm)
-> s’enthousiasmer pour [qch]
-> (plus familier) s’emballer pour [qch]
To enthuse over/about [sth]
Ex: Arthur came home from the science museum enthusing about the new mineral exhibit.
Adjective:
(that cannot be forgiven)
-> inexcusable, impardonnable
Inexcusable
Ex: Murder is inexcusable, no matter what the reason
Adjective of enthuse?
Enthusiastic ( about sth / about doing something)
Ex:
Adjective:
1.(unpleasant) désagréable, déplaisant
- (person: unlikable) désagréable, déplaisant
disagreeable
Ex:
1.We found the hotel disagreeable and cut our stay short.
- I could never date such a disagreeable person.
Idiom:
to have or show indications that mean that something else exists, is true, or will happen
Show signs of
Ex: The city’s education system is showing signs of improvement
A social phenomenon whereby the public at large comes to fear some threat to health, based on suppositions which are nearly always not well-founded.
a state of alarm caused by a revelation concerning public heath
Health scare
idiom:
Not informed about things that might be useful to know
(To keep) In the dark
ex:
Our boss tends to keep us in the dark most of the time.
Do you know anything?” “No, I’m completely in the dark, like everyone else.
Phrasal verb:
To separate something into its different parts
Take something apart
Ex: We took the engine apart to see what the problem was.
Phrase:
from what I know and understand from the information that I have
To the best of my knowledge/belief
Ex:
To the best of my knowledge, the chemicals which were found are not dangerous
To the best of my belief, these letters were written by my aunt.
Idiom:
Not knowing what to do
At a loss
Ex: I was so embarrassed that I was at a loss for words (= I didn’t know what to say).
Idiom: formal
About
As to
Ex: there’s no decision as to when the work might start
What’s the preposition with come as a surprise ?
To come as a surprise to somebody
Phrasal verb:
To persuade someone to do something
Talk someone into something
Ex: He’s against the idea, but I think I can talk him into it
Conjunction:
In order to prevent any possibility that something will happen
Lest
Ex: We have taken umbrellas lest the weather should get worse
Idiom:
To maintain hope that something will happen or be the case, especially when it does not seem likely. Often used in negative constructions and with modifiers like “much,” “any,” “little,” etc., before the word “hope.”
Hold out hope
Ex: They didn’t hold out much hope for being approved for a mortgage, given their credit history.
Idiom:
To help someone
Give/lend someone a (helping) hand
Ex: These tax cuts will give industry a helping hand
Idiom:
Not in any way
Not in the least
Ex: This terrible news DIDN’T PUT OFF MIRIAM IN THE least
Collocation with “raise any objections” ?
Raise any objections TO
Idiom:
To become famous or respected by a lot of people
Make a name for yourself
Ex: He’s made a name for himself as a talented journalist
Idiom:
To say a person or thing is stupid and not worth anything
-> strongly criticised
Pour scorn on someone/something
Ex: Critics of the president have been pouring scorn on the plan ever since it was first proposed.
Collocations with the verb “despair”?
To despair at/over or of
Ex: I despair at/over the policies of this government
They began to despair of ever being rescued
Phrase:
Saying or showing the opposite
-> Be careful about its use in a sentence
To the contrary
Ex: Despite reports to the contrary, she seems to be coping well in prison.
Is it come to conclusion?
NO
Come to the conclusion
Idiom:
To allow someone to make their own decisions about what to do
Leave someone to their own devices
Ex: He seemed to be a responsible person, so I left him to his own devices
Idiom:
To be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage
Be up to your ears in something
Ex: I’m up to my ears in university work
Phrase:
to get something from something else
To derive something from something
Ex: She derives great pleasure/satisfaction from playing the violin.
Idiom:
To be what people are discussing in a particular place
Be the talk of somewhere / be the talk of the town
Ex: Her behaviour is the talk of the neighbourhood/office.
Adjective:
Showing strong feelings
-> fervant
Ardent
Ex: An ardent supporter of Man Utd
Idiom:
Used when the amount of one thing is the same as the amount of another thing
In equal measure
Ex: I was angry and embarrassed in equal measure
By avoiding tax, you can enjoy power and luxury in equal measure.
Idiom:
- If something such as a product, a piece of work or a performance has … … , some parts of it could be improved
- If a person has … … , they do not always behave well and politely
Rough edges
Ex:
1. He’s a great player, but his game still has a few rough edges
- Age and experience have softened his rough edges (=have made him a more polite or gentle person)
Idiom:
To have less influence or importance
To take a back seat (to somebody/something)
Ex: Foreign policy will take a back seat to domestic problems for a while
Long-term planning took a back seat in the deliberations of the senior engineers whose efforts were principally devoted to overcoming short-term problems.
Idiom:
To try very hard to do something
To take (great) pains to do something
Ex: He took great pains to dress well for the occasion
What’s the collocation with the verb emerge?
Emerge FROM
What’s the collocation with the verb engage?
Engage WITH
Expression used to indicate that you are doing something according to what is usual
By habit
Ex: In our technological society, all this happens mostly by habit.
Expression to indicate that what you are saying applies to the feature you have just mentioned or to many features of something.
-> à ce propos, à cet égard
In this respect / in many respects
Ex: The children are not unintelligent–in fact, they seem quite normal in this respect.
In many respects, vegetarians are healthier than omnivores
Phrasal verb:
To learn or start to do something, especially for pleasure
To take up
Ex: To achieve such a status, a language has to be taken up by other countries around the world.
Verb:
To play and behave in a happy way
-> gambader, s’amuser
to frolic
Ex: A group of suntanned children were frolicking on the beach.
Idiom:
Used to refer to the opposite of the word that comes before it
or otherwise
Ex: Hand in your test papers, finished or otherwise (= or not finished)
Idiom:
If you say that something …. …. happen, you mean that it is likely to happen
May well
Ex: She may well not want to travel alone
Verb:
To protect something from harm
-> protéger/sauvegarder
To protect children or adults who could be hurt emotionally or physically
To safeguard
Ex: The union safeguards the interests of all its members
Extensive background checks on staff are carried out to safeguard children in schools
adjective:
sleeping deeply
sound asleep
Ex: The baby is sound asleep
Phrasal verb:
If something dangerous or unpleasant … … , it suddenly starts
if an infectious disease …. …., people start to suffer from it and it spreads to others
To escape from a place
To break out
Ex: War broke out in 1914.
Many diseases have broken out in these camps.
They broke out of prison and fled the country.
Phrasal verb:
to give something to someone younger than you in the family because you want them to have it or because you no longer need it
-> related to inherit
hand something down to
Ex: This necklace was handed down to my mother by my grandmother.
Verb:
- To eat something by taking a lot of small bites
- To bite something gently and repeatedly
nibble (at something)
Ex:
1. A mouse has nibbled through the computer cables.
- She nibbled his ear.
adjective:
A …. tree loses its leaves in autumn and grows new ones in the spring
Relating to body parts that fall out or fall off and are replaced by new ones, for example a child’s or young animal’s first teeth
Deciduous
Adjective:
Suitable or safe for eating
Edible
Ex: Only the leaves of the plant are edible
I like to decorate my salads with edible flowers
Phrase:
To have a use
Serve a purpose
Ex: These small village shops serve a very useful purpose
School uniforms also serve a useful purpose by identifying who belongs on campus
Verb:
To tell someone that something unpleasant is going to happen
Forewarn
Ex: The employees had been forewarned (that) the end-of-year financial results would be poor
Idiom:
Said to mean that if you know about something before it happens, you can be prepared for it
-> un homme averti en vaut deux
Forewarned is forearmed
Ex:” The professor hinted that the final exam would be difficult. Forewarned is forearmed, so I started studying extra hard.”
Difference between “continuously” and “continually”?
Continuously = means without interruption or pause. It refers to something that happens in an unbroken, constant manner.
Example: The machine ran continuously for 24 hours.
Continually = means something happens repeatedly over a period of time, but with pauses in between.
Example: She was continually interrupted during her presentation.
So, continuously = nonstop, while continually = repeatedly with breaks
Noun:
a usually large payment made to people when they leave their job, either when their employer has asked them to leave or when they are leaving at the end of their working life, as a reward for very long or good service in their job
-> indemnité de départ généreuse
golden handshake
Ex: He is to leave with a golden handshake understood to total at least one year’s salary.
Idiom:
means to gain initial experience or develop skills in a particular field, often by starting with something challenging.
Cut one’s teeth
Ex: She cut her teeth in journalism by working for a small local newspaper before moving to a national publication
Idiom:
means to advance through different levels of a career or hierarchy
It implies gradual improvement or promotion.
Climb the career ladder
Progress up the rungs
Ex: He started as an intern and gradually progressed up the rungs to become the company’s director
Noun:
Something that has advantages and disadvantages
Mixed blessing
Ex: Getting into the team is a mixed blessing - I’ll have to spend a lot of time training
Adj:
used to describe a situation in which people will do anything to be successful, even if what they do harms other people
Fiercely competitive
dog-eat-dog
Ex: It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there
Phrase:
A slight sign of something
A whiff of something
Ex:
They regularly hold elections without a whiff of corruption or violence.
I thought I detected a whiff of desperation in his voice.
There’s just a whiff of snobbery in some of the criticism.
There’s more than a whiff of nostalgia about shows such as these.
Phrasal verb: (informal)
- to buy or get something quickly and enthusiastically because it is cheap or exactly what you want
- to immediately offer someone a job or position because you want them very much
Snap something up
Ex:
- The tickets for the concert were snapped up within three hours of going on sale
- She was snapped up by a large law firm
Noun:
All the achievements or failures that someone or something has had in the past
Track record
Ex: The school has an impressive/strong track record of getting its students into good universities
Noun:
A person’s way of thinking and their opinions
Mindset
Ex:
To have a different/the same mindset
It’s extraordinary how hard it is to change the mindset of the public and the press
Idiom:
If … …. …. (….) …. on a subject, people do not yet know the answer or have not yet decided if it is good or bad
The jury’s still out (on something)
Ex: The jury’s still out on the safety of irradiated food
Noun:
A great improvement or important development in something
Quantum leap
Ex: The appointment of a female director is a quantum leap for women’s equality
Noun: informal disapproving
Something that seems to be a fast and easy solution to a problem but is in fact not very good or will not last long
Quick fix
Ex:
People are still looking for the quick fix
He warned against any quick-fix solutions
Idiom:
To avoid trouble by behaving in a quiet way
Keep your head down
Ex: He’s in a bad mood today - I’m just keeping my head down
Phrase:
A public announcement to say that something isn’t true, given quickly to prevent media interest
Swift denial
Ex:
Both parties issued a swift-denial, but most of the tabloids ran the story in any case
Phrase:
Brief sleep, usually during daytime
Quick catnap
Ex: After a quick catnap, he was ready to face the press
Noun: informal
A situation in which a company is losing a lot of money
Red ink
Ex: In spite of substantial investment, the company is still bleeding red ink and drastic action is likely before the year end.
Noun:
(used especially in newspapers) the first signs of an improvement in an economy that is performing badly
green shoots
Ex:
The housing market is stagnating and there are no green shoots as yet.
He announced he could see the green shoots of recovery in the job market.
Adjective:
A … company or investment is one that can be trusted and is not likely to fail
-> valeur sûre
blue chip
Ex: Typically, blue chip companies have been in business for a long time and are dominant in their particular markets.
Noun:
Large electrical …. for the house, such as cookers and washing machines
White goods
Ex: Sales volumes of white goods such as dishwashers and freezers are virtually static.
Noun:
An extra payment that is given to someone for accepting a new job
-> prime de bienvenue
Golden hello
Ex: It is thought that top executive James Eagleton received a golden hello of around 2 million on joining the corporation
Noun:
a person or organization that saves a company from financial difficulties or from an unwanted takeover (= a situation in which a company gets control of another company) by putting money into the company or by buying it
White knight
Ex: A white knight has galloped to the aid of the company and will acquire it for more than $11 billion.
Alternative to “in order to” ?
So as to
Ex:
… And young people are usually more than willing to work unpaid or for minimal wages, in order to gain valuable experience and get them closer to the first rung on the career ladder.
… And young people are usually more than willing to work unpaid or for minimal wages, so as to gain valuable experience and get them closer to the first rung on the career ladder
Alternative to “for fear that” ?
Lest
Ex:
Unpaid interns are in a vulnerable position, often afraid to take action against their employers for fear that they might be shown the door
Unpaid interns are in a vulnerable position, often afraid to take action against their employers lest they might be shown the door
What’s the negative of “In order to” and “So as to” ???
In order not to AND So as not to
Ex:
I used to commute into the office at the crack of dawn so as not to / in order not to have to travel in overcrowded trains.
Idiom:
To not be noticed or dealt with
-> Passer entre les mailles du filet
Fall through the cracks / Slip through the net
Ex: Little details often fall through the cracks.
Idiom:
Similar in type
Different from “in the same way as”
Along the lines of something
In the same way as = emphasizes an exact or close similarity in method, action, or approach. It suggests that something is done in a similar manner.
Ex: He solved the problem in the same way as his teacher had taught him (the method used is nearly identical)
Along the lines of = Is more general and suggests an approximation rather than an exact similarity. It often refers to ideas, styles, or concepts rather than specific actions.
Ex: I want to write a book along the lines of Harry Potter.
I was thinking of doing a meal along the lines of that dinner I did for Annie and Dave.
They’re campaigning for the electoral system to be reformed along the lines of (= so that it becomes similar to) the one in Germany.
Noun (informal):
A rude, stupid, or awkward man
-> rustre
Lout :
Ex: He’s such a lout
Adjective (informal):
Unfriendly and easily offended or annoyed
-> irritable, susceptible
Prickly
Ex: She was asked a couple of questions about her private life and got a little prickly
Noun (informal):
A young person who is very clever and successful
-> petit prodige /surdoué
Whizz-kid
Ex: The 20-year-old whizz kid is in line to become Britain’s youngest-ever Formula 1 racing driver
