ENGLISH, notes, 07

that's... for you = there's... for you NB : lu dans : "How did the Mafia get into the house ?" "Shot their way in, I suppose." "Without leaving bullet holes ?" "Well, that's the Mafia for you."

(disapproving) used to say that you think something is a typical example of something bad (e.g : You spend two hours cooking a meal and they say 'it's disgusting' - that's children for you !)

eats (tjs pl.) NB : lu sur une pancarte chez Waterstone "Eat London. A selection of the finest eats in London for you to replicate from the comfort of your kitchen."

(informal) - articles of food - a small amount of food (e.g : Would you like some eats ?) - food or meals, usually at a social event (e.g : It won't cost anything, except for booze and eats.)

grubby NB : entendu dans Four in a Bed "grubby bathroom drawers".

(informal) A grubby person or object is rather dirty and needs to be washed (e.g : His white coat was grubby and stained. Kids with grubby faces. He wore torn jeans and a grubby shirt. Don't wipe your grubby hands on my clean towel ! He was wearing some old shorts and a grubby T-shirt.)

a fascinator NB : rencontré dans "Queen Elizabeth looked as graceful as can be, while exiting St George's Chapel in Windsor on Christmas, sporting a mid-length skirt and lace-covered fascinator."

A fascinator is a type of lightweight hat worn by women on formal occasions, a decoration for the head like small hat that some women wear at formal event such as weddings.

to be the butt of jokes

If someone or something is the butt of jokes or criticism, people often make fun of them or criticize them (e.g : He is still the butt of cruel jokes about his humble origins.)

to catch on NB : lu dans "Ibrahim had tried to set up a WhatsApp group in Frebruary, but it hadn't caught on." NB : - set sth up : If you set something up, you create or arrange it. The two sides agreed to set up a commission to investigate claims (e.g : An organization which sets up meetings about issues of interest to women. Tell us when and why you started your business and how you went about setting it up.)

If something catches on, it becomes popular (e.g : The idea has been around for ages without catching on.)

as per (formal) NB : lu dans "Ibrahim is behind the wheel. Everyone had been to the toilet before they left as per his instructions." NB : - behind the wheel = at the wheel : driving a motor vehicle (e.g : I'm a different person when I'm behind the wheel.) - as per instructions : according to the instructions (e.g : I had two spoonfuls after lunch, as per instructions.)

If something happens as per a particular plan or suggestion, it happens in the way planned or suggested (e.g : When they reach here they complain that they are not being paid as per the agreement. I approached an Intourist official, as per instructions.)

through NB : lu dans "Close to tears through boredom [elle est au restaurant avec un gars super chiant] Donna had wondered where Carl was this evening. Donna had recently taken to scrolling through the Instagram feed of her ex-boyfriend and the Instagram feed of his new girlfriend, who appeared to be called Toyota. It had become such a habit now, she will sort of miss it when Carl and Toyota split up. Which they will, because Carl is an idiot and he's not going to keep a hold of a girlfriend with eyebrows that great." NB : - to take to doing sth : If you take to doing something, you begin to do it as a regular habit (e.g : They had taken to wandering through the streets arm-in-arm.) - to scroll : If you scroll through text on a computer or phone screen, you move the text up or down to find the information that you need (e.g : I scrolled down to find 'United States of America'.) - feed (n.) : a web page, screen, etc. that updates (= changes) often to show the latest information (e.g : Your Twitter feed refreshes automatically to show new tweets. A live video feed enables the 'driver' to operate the vehicle remotely.)

If something happens because of something else, you can say that it happens through it (e.g : They are understood to have retired through age or ill health. The thought of someone suffering through a mistake of mine makes me shiver.)

blocked NB : lu sur une pub pour un médicament contre le rhume "blocked nose".

If something is blocked or blocked up, it is completely closed so that nothing can get through it (e.g : The main drain was blocked. His arteries were blocked up again, requiring him to undergo repeat surgery. I've got a blocked (up) nose. The road is blocked - you'll have to go round the other way.)

due NB : lu dans "We had better get started. Conversational French are due in at twelve." (dit par un membre du Thursday Murder Club, pour ne pas perdre de temps en début de réunion ; "are due in" = sont censés arriver ?)

If something is due at a particular time, it is expected to happen, be done, or arrive at that time (e.g : The results are due at the end of the month. The first price increases are due to come into force in July. Her first novel is due out in May. Mr Carter is due in London on Monday. Customers who paid later than twenty days after the due date.)

thought-provoking NB : lu chez Waterstone "Thought-provoking reads." NB : a read : - If you say that a book or magazine is a good read, you mean that it is very enjoyable to read (e.g : His latest novel is a good read.) - the act of reading sth (e.g : It's not brilliant but it's worth a read. The book is a good/easy/... read. [UK informal] Could I have a read of [= Can I read] your newspaper ?) - an act of reading sth, or a period of time spent reading sth (e.g : She settled herself down for a quiet read.)

If something such as a book or a film is thought-provoking, it contains interesting ideas that make people think seriously (e.g : This is an entertaining yet thought-provoking film.)

to refine sth NB : lu dans le manuel sur l'intonation "To refine our tonicity rule so as to allow for compounds, we need to change 'on the last content word' to an expression covering both simple words and compound words. Accordingly, from here on we shall refer to lexical items rather than to content words." NB : - to allow for sth : to take sth into consideration when making a plan or calculation (e.g : Does your insurance allow for home nursing care ?)

If something such as a process, theory, or machine is refined, it is improved by having small changes made to it (e.g : Surgical techniques are constantly being refined.)

to switch off (intr.) NB : lu dans "One by one, the lights of the village switch off." (dans le contexte, les gens vont peu à peu se coucher, donc les lumières des maisons s'éteignent l'une après l'autre)

If sth such as a light or a machine switches off, it stops working (e.g : The heating has switched off.)

be a lover of NB : entendu dans une émission immobilière : "Do you like the style ?" "..." "Oh dear, you've gone quiet..." "The dormers... We're not great lovers of dormers..." (ils découvrent une maison à acheter, ils arrivent devant) (plus tard) "I was not sure about the dormers, but there's so much to the property..." NB : - a dormer : A dormer or dormer window is a window that is built upright in a sloping roof.

If you are a lover of something such as animals or the arts, you enjoy them very much and take great pleasure in them (e.g : She is a great lover of horses and horse racing. Are you an opera lover ?)

be desperate to do sth NB : entendu dans une émission "I know you're desperate to eat it." (quelqu'un qui est pressé de goûter une spécialité qui vient d'être préparée, mais devra attendre au moins qu'on la présente correctement sur assiette)

If you are desperate for something or desperate to do something, you want or need it very much indeed (e.g : They'd been married nearly four years and June was desperate to start a family. People are desperate for him to do something.)

within NB : lu dans "Ian Ventham dies within seconds of being injected with a huge dose of fentanyl." NB : - to inject sb with sth : To inject someone with a substance such as a medicine means to put it into their body using a device with a needle called a syringe (e.g : His son was injected with strong drugs. The technique consists of injecting healthy cells into the weakened muscles. He needs to inject himself once a month.)

If you are within a particular distance of a place, you are less than that distance from it (e.g : The man was within a few feet of him. It was within easy walking distance of the hotel. The rebels have advanced to within 150 kms of the capital. We've always lived within ten miles of the coast.) We can use within to refer to time (e.g : I've booked train tickets on the Internet. They should arrive within three days. [no later than three days from now]).

on the dot NB : lu dans "Three p.m. On the dot."

If you arrive somewhere or do something on the dot, you arrive there or do it at exactly the time that you were supposed to (e.g : They appeared on the dot of 9.50 pm as always. At nine o' clock on the dot, they have breakfast. The plane landed at two o'clock on the dot. She came promptly on the dot of eleven.)

not up to scratch NB : lu sur un packet de Yorkshire Tea "We've put a lot of love into making this tea, so it matters to us that you enjoy it. If anything's not up to scratch, call us on 0800 328 1886." NB : - on (UK) : used for giving the phone number which you can use to talk to someone. The American word is at (e.g : Call us on 0800 0900017.)

If you say that someone or something is not up to scratch, you mean that they are not good enough, that they are not reaching an acceptable standard (e.g : My mother always made me feel I wasn't coming up to scratch. Your last essay wasn't up to scratch. Your last essay didn't come up to scratch.)

an act NB : entendu dans "You can drop the act, brother. It's only the two of us." (Rupert Grint à l'oncle George qui est en transe). NB : - to drop sth : to stop doing or planning sth, esp. an activity (e.g : I'm going to drop yoga and do aerobics instead. Can you drop what you're doing and help me with this report ?)

If you say that someone's behaviour is an act, you mean that it does not express their real feelings or intentions (e.g : There were moments when I wondered: did she do this on purpose, was it all just a game, an act ? // His anger was real. It wasn't an act. // Was she really upset or was that just an act ?)

beside the point NB : rencontré dans "That's beside the point !"

If you say that something is beside the point, you mean that it is not relevant to the subject that you are discussing (e.g : Brian didn't like it, but that was beside the point.)

inviting NB : entendu dans "It's very inviting and cosy." (il est quesiton d'un salon, ou d'un canapé, dans une émission de décoration ou d'immobilier)

If you say that something is inviting, you mean that it has good qualities that attract you or make you want to experience it (e.g : The February air was soft, cool, and inviting. There is an inviting restaurant with an outdoor terrace. An inviting smile.) Encouraging you to feel welcome or attracted (e.g : The room looked cosy and inviting. An inviting smile.)

to touch a raw nerve NB : rencontré dans : "To say that they had touched a raw nerve would, clearly, be an understatement."

If you say that you have touched a nerve or touched a raw nerve, you mean that you have accidentally upset someone by talking about something that they feel strongly about or are very sensitive about (e.g : Alistair saw Henry shrink, as if the words had touched a nerve. The mere mention of John had touched a very raw nerve indeed. She touched a raw nerve when she mentioned that job he didn't get.)

by comparison with = in comparison with NB : rencontré dans : "Another attack on Ms Winshaw. Not a severe one. Quite mild, by comparison with others."

If you say, for example, that something is large or small in comparison with, in comparison to, or by comparison with something else, you mean that it is larger or smaller than the other thing (e.g : Is the human heart weak in comparison with the other organs? The amount of carbon dioxide released by burning coal is small in comparison. Those places are modern by comparison with Tresillian.)

to scrap sth NB : titre d'article "Fears £500 COVID sick pay could be scrapped this month."

If you scrap something, you get rid of it or cancel it (e.g : President Hussein called on all countries in the Middle East to scrap nuclear or chemical weapons. It had been thought that passport controls would be scrapped.) to not continue with a system or plan (e.g : They're considering scrapping the tax and raising the money in other ways. We scrapped our plans for a trip to France.)

to settle on sth NB : lu dans "Donna had spent much of the evening surveying the dinner table, idly wondering how she would murder Gregor, if she absolutely had to. She had settled on injecting a dough ball with cyanide." (Il l'a invitée au restaurant, et elle s'ennuie.)

If you settle on a particular thing, you choose it after considering other possible choices (e.g : I finally settled on a Mercedes estate.)

to shake sth off NB : rencontré dans "On a scale of 1 to 6, how would you rate your ability to handle stress ?" "I can shake off stress."

If you shake off something that you do not want such as an illness or a bad habit, you manage to recover from it or get rid of it (e.g : Businessmen are trying to shake off habits learned under six decades of a protected economy. Get your body moving to boost energy, stay supple and shake off winter lethargy. He was generally feeling bad. He just couldn't shake it off.) If you shake off someone who is following you, you manage to get away from them, for example by running faster than them (e.g : I caught him a lap later, and although I could pass him I could not shake him off. He was unaware that they had shaken off their pursuers.) If you shake off someone who is touching you, you move your arm or body sharply so that they are no longer touching you (e.g : He grabbed my arm. I shook him off. // She shook off his restraining hand.)

to sleep sth off (informal) NB : entendu dans une série "Why don't you sleep it off and then find a way to apologise to your neighbours in the morning ?"

If you sleep off the effects of too much travelling, drink, or food, you recover from it by sleeping (e.g : It's a good idea to spend the first night of your holiday sleeping off the jet lag. They had been up all night and were sleeping it off. To sleep off a hangover.)

to soak up the sun (informal) NB : rencontré dans "In 1,200 square feet of living space, it includes three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a covered front porch where Springfield and her son can soak up the sun on summer evenings."

If you soak up the sun, you sit or lie in the sun, because you enjoy it (e.g : I was lying on my stomach soaking up the sun.)

to 'stir-,fry NB : rencontré dans : "A big plate of stir-fried vegetables."

If you stir-fry vegetables, meat, or fish, you cook small pieces of them quickly by stirring them in a small quantity of very hot oil. This method is often used in Chinese cookery (e.g : Stir-fry the vegetables until crisp. Stir-fried vegetables.)

to switch over NB : rencontré dans "Switch over to ITV." (impératif, publicité)

If you switch over when you are watching television or listening to the radio, you change to another channel by pressing a switch (e.g : I just happened to switch over although I haven't been watching the tennis. Let's switch over to Channel 4. Can't we switch over to Channel 4 ?)

to think sth through NB : lu dans "Elizabeth had been thinking things through last night."

If you think a situation through, you consider it thoroughly, together with all its possible effects or consequences (e.g : I didn't think through the consequences of promotion. The administration has not really thought through what it plans to do once the fighting stops. It was the first time she'd had a chance to think it through.)

to trade sth in NB : rencontré dans : "What did you trade in ?" "My old washing machine."

If you trade in an old car or appliance, you give it to the person you are buying a new one from so that you pay less (e.g : For his birthday he was given a trumpet, but he traded it in for a guitar. She's decided to trade in her Volvo for a Volkswagen.)

to win sb over = to win sb round (UK) NB : rencontré dans "Before the voting assemblies, meetings were held in which rival officials tried to win over the people to their point of view. Quite how frequent or well attended they were, we do not know for sure." NB : - quite (always in negatives) : used after a negative word to mean that sth is not exactly correct or clear (e.g : I'm not sure that 'respect' is quite the right word. I don't know quite why you've come here and I suggest you leave. We couldn't quite remember where you lived. Not quite what/why/how...)

If you win someone over or win them round, you persuade them to support you or agree with you (e.g : He has won over a significant number of the left-wing deputies. They still hope to win him round.)

to go about sth to go about doing sth NB : lu dans : "You can get it on the internet." (il est question d'un poison) "Goodness," says Elizabeth. "Can you ?" "The dark web. I read about it in The Lancet. You can get all sorts." Elizabeth nods. "And how would one go about getting on the dark web ?"

The way you go about a task or problem is the way you approach it and deal with it (e.g : What's the best way of going about this ? How can we go about solving this problem ?)

the working classes

The working class or the working classes are the group of people in a society who do not own much property, who have low social status, and who do jobs which involve using physical skills rather than intellectual skills (e.g : A quarter of the working class voted for him. Increased levels of home ownership among the working classes. A self-educated man from a working class background. The group is mainly Black, mainly working-class.)

to lose out NB : lu dans "After an hour or two of work, men might have breakfast at about 8 a.m. : bacon with their bread, and perhaps coffee would be on offer as well as tea. [...] Wives and children, in the poorest households, lost out. In the West Country they often resorted to 'Tea Kettle Broth' - bread softened in hot milk and water." NB : - on offer : If there is something on offer, it is available to be used or bought (e.g : Savings schemes are the best retail investment products on offer. Country cottages on offer at bargain prices.) - to resort to sth : If you resort to a course of action that you do not really approve of, you adopt it because you cannot see any other way of achieving what you want (e.g : When all else failed, he resorted to violence. Some schools have resorted to recruiting teachers from overseas.)

to not have an advantage that other people have (e.g : The new tax means that the vast majority of working people will lose out.)

to sign sth off NB : lu dans "The diggers are ready to go, the permits are signed off." (il est question d'aller détruire un cimetière pour bâtir par dessus)

to officially approve of sth or to officially agree that sth has been completed in a satisfactory way by signing your name (e.g : You don't do any overtime until someone has signed it off. The auditors signed off the accounts.) (UK) to give sb a medical certificate saying that they are too ill to work (e.g : The doctor has signed her off for another month.)

to derail sth [(,)di:'reɪl] NB : [dɪ-] est possible. NB : rencontré dans "The event was going to plan until a swarm of bees derailed the proceedings." (il est question d'un événement royal)

to prevent a plan or process or negotiations from succeeding or continuing as planned (e.g : Renewed fighting threatens to derail the peace talks.)

Agreed !

When you are discussing something, you can say 'Agreed?' to check whether the other people agree with what you have just said. You can say 'Agreed' if you agree with what someone has just said (e.g : 'That means we move out today. Agreed?'—'Agreed.' // 'One thing you can never insure against is corruption among your staff.'—'Agreed.') accepted (e.g : We have to stick to the agreed price. // "So we'll meet at 5.30, shall we ?" "Agreed [= yes]."

change NB : lu dans "Excuse me, can you change a pound, please ?"

When you change money, you exchange it for the same amount of money in a different currency, or in smaller notes, bills, or coins (e.g : Could you change a £10 note (for two fives), please? Could you change a £5 note for me? I need to change my dollars for/into English money.)

to handle sth NB : lu dans la librairie du British Museum (pendant la pandémie) "Please keep handling to a minimum."

When you handle something, you hold it or move it with your hands (e.g : Wear rubber gloves when handling cat litter.) NB : manipuler ?

to ring NB : lu dans "I'll let you get back to sleep now, Elizabeth ; sorry for ringing so late."

When you ring someone, you phone them (e.g : He rang me at my mother's. If you'd like more information, ring the Hotline on 414 3929. I would ring when I got back to the hotel. She has rung home just once. Could someone ring for a taxi ?)

woodchip = woodchip wallpaper NB : entendu dans une émission immobilière "The first thing we're going to do is get rid of the woodchip." Puis, plus tard, "strip the woodchip paper". NB : - strip sth : to remove, pull, or tear the covering or outer layer from sth (e.g : Because of the pollution, the trees are almost completely stripped of bark. The paintwork was so bad that we decided to strip off all the paint and start again. During the summer months, the sheep strip the mountains bare. Huge areas of land have been stripped of all trees and vegetation.)

Woodchip is a type of wallpaper which has lots of small lumps on its surface that are formed by tiny pieces of wood glued to the underneath. Woodchips are very small pieces of wood, usually made from waste wood, which are used in processes such as making paper (e.g : The domestic market for woodchips. The Government's decision to cut woodchip exports by 20%.)

from NB : lu dans "Labourers in the North usually got a better breakfast than their southern counterparts from the end of the eighteenth century. Food was cheaper than in the South and wages were higher as landowners increasingly competed with industry for labour."

You can use from when you are talking about the beginning of a period of time (e.g : She studied painting from 1926 and also worked as a commercial artist. Breakfast is available to fishermen from 6 a.m. From 1922 till 1925 she lived in Prague.)

to have to hand it to sb NB : lu dans "She simply cannot believe her luck. Two murders and here she is, right in the middle of it all. She had to hand it to Elizabeth. She definitely owned her a drink, or whatever else Elizabeth might prefer."

You say things such as 'You have to hand it to her' or 'You've got to hand it to them' when you admire someone for their skills or achievements and you think they deserve a lot of praise (e.g : You've got to hand it to Melissa, she certainly gets around. I mean you've got to hand it to her, she's brought up those three children all on her own.)

again NB : rencontré dans "France is free again." (la personne vient d'apprendre la Libération)

You use again to indicate that something is now in a particular state or place that it used to be in (e.g : He opened his attaché-case, removed a folder, then closed it again. I started to feel good about myself again.)

can/could always (spoken) NB : rencontré dans "Mr Wallace, a former Scots Guards officer, said his regiment 'kicked the backside' of the tsar in the Crimea and 'we can always do it again.'"

You use always in expressions such as can always or could always when you are making suggestions or suggesting an alternative approach or method (e.g : If you can't find any decent apples, you can always try growing them yourself. If I failed, I could always go back to being a writer.) Used for making a suggestion (e.g : You could always phone him yourself.)

comparatively NB : lu dans "The student who is afraid of mistakes and remains silent will learn comparatively little." (relativement)

You use comparative to show that you are judging something against a previous or different situation. For example, comparative calm is a situation which is calmer than before or calmer than the situation in other places (e.g : Those who manage to reach the comparative safety of Fendel. The task was accomplished with comparative ease. A comparatively small nation. Children who find it comparatively easy to make and keep friends.)

ever + comparative NB : lu dans "Today, age and the pandemic have forced the Queen to withdraw from ever more royal duties and public engagements, most conspicuously the recent Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow."

You use ever to say that something happens more all the time (e.g : They grew ever further apart. I think the amount of work will increase and that it will become ever more complex.) Used before a comparative adjective or adverb for showing that something is growing or developing all the time (e.g : The tax laws grow ever more complex. Our aim is an ever closer union of nation states.)

to look like NB : rencontré dans "It's looking like the fifth, sir. For the funeral." (il est question du prochain enterrement de Lord Mountbatten) Idée : "on s'achemine vers..." (c'est la date qui se profile)

You use look when indicating what you think will happen in the future or how a situation seems to you (e.g : He had lots of time to think about the future, and it didn't look good. It sure looks like snow today. Britain looks set to send a major force of over 100 tanks and supporting equipment. So far it looks like Warner Brothers' gamble is paying off. The Europeans had hoped to win, and, indeed, had looked like winning. The team had stormed into a two-goal lead and looked to be cruising to a third round place.)

next to + negative term NB : lu dans "This is next to useless."

You use next to before a negative, or a word that suggests something negative, to mean almost, but not completely (e.g : Johnson still knew next to nothing about tobacco. Most pre-prepared weight loss products are next to useless.)

next + superlatif NB : lu dans Vanity Fair : "What I like best, is for a nobleman to marry a miller's daughter, it makes all the women so angry. And what I like next best, is for a poor fellow to marry a rich girl."

You use next to say that something has more of a particular quality than all other things except one. For example, the thing that is next best is the one that is the best except for one other thing (e.g : He didn't have a son; I think he felt that a grandson is the next best thing. At least three times more daffodils are grown than in Holland, the next largest grower.)

the first/second/etc time round NB : rencontré dans "For the record, the Catholic church makes clear distinctions between Catholics who marry in the Catholic church - a sacrament that therefore requires an annulment if the person wants a second church wedding after a civil divorce - and Catholics like Boris who marry elsewhere first time round - not a sacrament and not valid, even if civilly legal."

You use round in expressions such as this time round or to come round when you are describing something that has happened before or things that happen regularly (e.g : At least two directors were expected to vote to increase rates this time round. Of course, it isn't the same first time round. We were very keen when the 1954 Rally came round.) The first/second/etc time that something happens (e.g : Looking after a baby is much easier the second time round.)

a build NB : entendu dans une émission immobilière "It's a new build."

a building that has recently been built or is in the process of being built (e.g : The house is attractive and has all the modern services one would expect from a new build.)

a man of the cloth NB : lu dans "His censure is close to that of the medieval Catholic Church ; breakfast ballast was for manual workers, not men of the cloth." NB : - ballast : a substance such as water, sand, or metal that is carried in ships or large balloons to help them remain steady.

a clergyman or other ecclesiastic

citron [ˈsɪt.rən] NB : rencontré dans : "Please send some cake, with some citron in." NB : - in (adv.) : within an object, area, or substance (e.g : Has the soup got any salt in ? We've been shut in all day.) // given or sent to someone official in order to be read (e.g : When does your essay have to be in ? Remember to get your application in by the end of the week.)

a fruit similar to a lemon but larger, with a less sour taste and thick skin, or the small tree on which this fruit grows (e.g : I love citron, especially in marmalade. Citron flavoured noodles.) NB : wordreference traduit par "cédrat".

a triumph NB : entendu dans "I think the layout is a triumph, actually !" (dit par l'évaluateur d'une épreuve où trois décorateurs d'intérieur redécoraient des appartements)

a great success or achievement, often one that has been gained with a lot of skill or effort

price point (langue des affaires) NB : rencontré dans "We all know that it's not difficult to find junk food for a cheap price in the UK. Indeed, many poorer families depend on it precisely because of its price point."

a point on a scale (= ordered set of numbers) of possible prices for a product (e.g : It's obvious we're not yet at a price point where people are going to park their cars and drive less. The quality reflects the high price point.) = niveau de prix, gamme de prix

concealer NB : rencontré dans : "She seemed to have applied concealer to the two or three mosquito bites on her face and neck, despite the nominal ban on make-up in the camp." (émission de télé-réalité) NB : - nominal : in name or thought but not in fact or not as things really are ; in name only, theoretical (e.g : She's the nominal head of our college - the real work is done by her deputy.)

a type of make-up used to hide spots or marks on the skin (e.g : Use concealer under tired eyes to hide dark circles.)

a two-seater NB : lu dans "a two-and-a-half seater sofa" (il est question d'un canapé pour deux sur lequel ils sont assis à trois et sont très serrés, situation comique).

a vehicle or piece of furniture with seats for only two people

do well for oneself NB : lu dans "She has done well for herself in bespoke yacht insurance." NB : bespoke : - specially made for a particular person, organization, or purpose (e.g : Bespoke leather shoes cost an average 1,000 pounds a pair. A bespoke suit/shirt. Bespoke software. A bespoke wi-fi system.) - making and selling products, or providing services, specially for a particular person, organization, or purpose (e.g : A bespoke tailor/shoe maker. A bespoke travel agency.)

become successful or wealty (e.g : Her friend had done well for herself since she'd moved to London.)

cluttered NB : entendu dans une émission où des gens vont ranger des appartements taudiesques "We're cluttered." (dit par la propriétaire qui n'y arrive plus) NB : entendu dans la même émission : - to declutter : to simplify or get rid of mess, disorder, complications,... from (e.g : To declutter your life.)

filled with things or people in an untidy way (e.g : A sad, dirty, cluttered room filled with the evidence of a sloppy lifestyle. The stage was cluttered with lamps and electrical leads, which the dancers neatly sidestepped.) untidy, not organised, and covered with a lot of things (e.g : A cluttered desk. A cluttered room. The floor is cluttered with hoses, tools and buckets.)

to take sb through sth NB : lu dans "The folder was a bit long and a bit complicated, but I think I got some of it. Why don't you take me through it ?"

to explain sth to sb (e.g : I'll take you through it one more time, then you can try it yourself.)

to zip sth / sb up NB : rencontré dans "he zipped himself up". Dans ce contexte, il remontait sa braguette après avoir fait pipi.

to fasten a piece of clothing by using its zip, or to help sb close the zip on a piece of clothing they are wearing (e;g : Could you zip me up, please ? Zip up your jacket, it's cold out there.)

to catch someone doing sth NB : rencontré dans émission de cuisine ou la cuisinière victorienne fait des recettes : "Oh, hello ! You've caught me having five minutes !" (elle est surprise en train de faire une pause en buvant une tasse de thé)

to find someone doing something that they do not expect you to see, especially something wrong or illegal (e.g : Several times she'd caught him staring at her.)

to head somewhere NB : lu dans "John, I've never known you utter a sentence without a reason. Where is this heading ?" (où veux-tu en venir ?)

to go in a particular direction (e.g : I was heading out of the room when she called me back. We were heading towards Kumasi when our truck broke down. he headed straight for the fridge. I think we ought to head back [= return to where we started].)

to go back a long way (UK) = to go way back NB : rencontré dans "You guys go waaay back, right ?"

to have been friends or associates for a very long time (e.g : We go back a long way, and she's always kept in touch, always been there for me.)

to be duty bound to do sth NB : lu dans Vanity Fair : "Then she quarrelled, as in (sic) duty bound, with all the friends and intimates of her youth, who, of course, could not be received by my Lady at Queen's Crawley."

to have to do sth because it is your duty (e.g : We are duty bound to justify how we spend our funds.)

to better sth NB : lu à un arrêt de bus "How many steps have you done today ? A brisk 10-minute walk a day can better your physical and mental health."

to improve sth or a situation (e.g : The organisation was established to better conditions for the disabled. An important step towards bettering relations between the two countries.) to achieve a better result than someone or something (e.g : Bradman's average score of 96 has never been bettered.)

to pick sth up NB : rencontré dans "On his return to the East, he took with him a variety of habits that he had picked up during his stay."

to learn a new skill or start a habit without intending to (e.g : She picked up a few German phrases while staying in Berlin.)

to 'sugar-coat sth NB : lu dans "It's best never to sugar-coat things, even when your instinct is to be protective."

to make (sth disagreeable) seem more acceptable or less unpleasant, as by using flattery, euphemism,...

to stress sb out

to make someone feel very nervous and worried (e.g : Interviews always stress me out.)

to parent (tr. or intr.) NB : lu dans "Books of advice on how to dress, how to get ahead at work, how to date, how to parent are displayed at the front of our bookshops." NB : - parent (n. et v.) : ['peərənt] (aux US, ['pær] est possible). - to get ahead : If you want to get ahead, you want to be successful in your career (e.g : He wanted safety, security, a home, and a chance to get ahead.)

to raise a child as their parent (e.g : I think he was parented very well. Graham has parented about 65 foster children and adopted 11 of them. A lot of adoptive families are second-time-around families, people who've parented before and realize they can do it.)

to dust sth down NB : lu dans "A traffic warden picked up my things and dusted down my bag." (une vieille dame qui est tombée dans la rue) NB : - traffic warden : A traffic warden is a person whose job is to make sure that cars are not parked illegally.

to remove dust from sth by brushing or wiping

to shop (tr.) NB : lu sur une pub : "The outdoor furniture to shop before it sells out."

to shop for sth, to examine the stock or offerings of sth (e.g : Shop your favourite dresses, tunics, tops and trousers, now up to 50% off in our end of year sale ! Shop the stores for Christmas gift ideas.)

to 'house-sit

to stay in someone's house while they are away in order to keep it safe

to raise eyebrows NB : lu dans "Mary Lennox's granddaughter has just had a baby. He's called River, which has raised a few eyebrows, but I rather like it."

to surprise, shock, or offend people (e.g : The BBC opera 'The Vampyr' raised eyebrows when it was shown but the public loved it.)

to fight a losing battle NB : lu dans : "And still the new messages continued to appear. She was fighting a losing battle." (elle essaie de bloquer les messages méchants qui arrivent sur le compte Twitter de sa mère)

to try hard to do something when there is no chance that you will succeed (e.g : Miss Bennett fought a losing battle against her depression.)

to 'shoehorn sth NB : lu dans "In some respects, Polybius tries to shoehorn the political life that he witnessed at Rome into a Greek analytical model that does not entirely fit." (en utilisant le mot "démocratie", par exemple) NB : - in some respects : You use expressions like in this respect and in many respects to indicate that what you are saying applies to the feature you have just mentioned or to many features of something (e.g : The children are not unintelligent-in fact, they seem quite normal in this respect. In many respects, vegetarians are healthier than omnivores.)

to try to make sth fit into a place that is too small or not suitable

to pull your weight NB : rencontré dans : "Come on, you lazy cow, when are you going to start pulling your weight around here ?" (à une personne qui n'aide pas pour faire la vaisselle)

to work as hard as everyone else in the group who is involved in the same task or activity (e.g : Your performance will be judged by the performance of your team, and you cannot afford to carry members who are not pulling their weight. The others had complained that Sarah wasn't pulling her weight.)

early days NB : rencontré dans : "It's true. I do love my work. Never more so than at the moment." "Why ? Are you working on another of your fascinating cases ?" "It's early days yet, but I may be onto something." NB : - be onto sth : If someone is onto something, they are about to discover something important (e.g : He leaned across the table and whispered to me, 'I'm really onto something.'. Archaeologists knew they were onto something big when they started digging.)

too soon to tell how things will turn out

to NB : rencontré dans Love Actually : "Two weeks to Christmas."

used for saying how much time passes before a particular date, time, or event (e.g : Sales increased during the 13 weeks to September 30th. Only another 18 days to the final exam !)

be an education (to / for sb) NB : lu dans "It really was an education." ('c'était très instructif', dit par Joyce à un policier qui est venu parler d'un crime avec le Thursday Murder Club)

used for saying that an experience makes someone change or develop their ideas (e.g : Seeing India at first-hand was a real education to me.) NB : - first hand : First hand information or experience is gained or learned directly, rather than from other people or from books (e.g : School trips give children firsthand experience not available in the classroom. We've been through Germany and seen first-hand what's happening there.) - at first hand : If you learn or experience something at first hand, you experience it yourself or learn it directly rather than being told about it by other people (e.g : He saw at first hand the effects of the recent heavy fighting.)

-roofed NB : lu à la National Gallery "A red-roofed house" (The Hay Wain) (à toit de tuiles)

used to form adjectives to describe something as having a particular kind of roof (e.g : A slate-roofed house. A white-sided, red-roofed building.)

a dinner lady

(UK) a female cook or canteen worker in a school.

to jiggle NB : rencontré sur 23andme "jiggle one's leg".

(informal) If you jiggle something, you move it quickly up and down or from side to side (e.g : He jiggled the doorknob noisily. To jiggle the door handle.)

I know, right ? NB : entendu dans une pub pour une machine à "schlucht" : "Oooh !" "I know, right ?"

(informal) said to show that you agree with something that someone has just said (e.g : "I have no idea what's going on." "I know, right ?")

that's a new one on me NB : lu dans "What's fentanyl ? That's a new one on me." (il est question d'une substance qui a causé la mort de qq)

(informal) said when someone has just told you a surprising fact that you did not know before (e.g : "Sian and Richard are getting married." "Really! That's a new one on me!")

delish (NB : stress on last) NB : entendu dans une pub pour une sorte de yaourt "Creamy and delish."

(informal) short for delicious (e.g : Thanks, darling, that was delish.)

butt-face

(slang) a disagreeable, ignorant, ugly, incompetent, or irritating person. An impolite phrase, it is generally used by juveniles or in a juvenile manner. Often written as a single word. (e.g : Jeff always steals my lunch money. He's such a butt-face ! // You scratched my car, you buttface !)

take the piss (out of sb) NB : lu dans : "What is this, Mum ? Are you taking the piss or something ?"

- (UK, offensive) to tease or make fun of sb or sth, to make a joke about sb or make sb look silly (e.g : They're always taking the piss out of him because he's a Barry Manilow fan.) - (UK, offensive) to be very annoying and unfair (e.g : £10 for a burger - that's taking the piss ! While some people actually don't realise their behaviour causes others discomfort, others just like to take the piss.

-something NB : lu dans "An exhausted shift-worker or a group of twentysomehtings with the munchies after an evening in the pub, eating late-night pizza in front of the telly, are seen to be 'snacking' rather than having 'supper'." NB : - to have the munchies (informal) : If someone gets the munchies, they suddenly feel a strong desire to eat a snack or something sweet (e.g : An attack of the munchies. I've got the munchies.)

-something is combined with numbers such as twenty and thirty to form adjectives which indicate an approximate amount, especially someone's age. For example, if you say that someone is thirty-something, you mean they are between thirty and forty years old. People of a similar age range are sometimes referred to as, for example, twenty-somethings or thirty-somethings.

sundae

A sundae is a tall glass of ice cream with whipped cream, sweet sace, nuts, fruit... on top of it (e.g : A chocolate sundae.)

a text NB : lu dans "She sends Chris a text."

A text is the same as a text message (e.g : He sent a text to his boss insisting that he had done nothing wrong.) NB : a text message = a written message that you send using a mobile phone.

weak NB : rencontré dans "weak tea".

A weak drink, chemical, or drug contains very little of a particular substance, for example because a lot of water has been added to it (e.g : A cup of weak tea. A very weak bleach solution.)

a struggle NB : entendu dans "It's a struggle to stay upright, to be honest." (dit par un journaliste sur place pendant la tempête Eunice) NB : - upright : If you are sitting or standing upright, you are sitting or standing with your back straight, rather than bending or lying down (e.g : Helen sat upright in her chair. Those who had managed to remain upright. Jerrold pulled himself upright on the bed. He moved into an upright position.)

An action or activity that is a struggle is very difficult to do (e.g : Losing weight was a terrible struggle.)

cold sores

Cold sores are small sore spots that sometimes appear on or near someone's lips and nose when they have a cold.

Happy Families

Happy Families is a traditional British card game usually with a specially made set of picture cards, featuring illustrations of fictional families of four, most often based on occupation types. The object of the game is to collect complete families. The player whose turn it is asks another player for a specific card: the asking player must hold a card of the same family. If the asked player has the card, they must give it to the requester, and the requester then takes another turn. If the asked player does not have the card, they say "not at home" and it becomes the asked player's turn. When a player completes a family they place it face-down in front of them. Play continues in this way until no families are separated among different players. The player with the most completed families wins. Equivalent des 7 Familles

in the interest(s) of NB : entendu à l'aéroport "In the interest of safety,..." (message de consignes)

INTEREST : sth that brings advantages to or affects someone or sth (e.g : A union looks after the interests of its members. It's in his interests to keep careful records. In the interests of safety, please do not smoke. Despite what you think, I'm only acting in your best interests [= doing what is best for you].)

ping NB : lu dans "Donna is getting ready to go out when her phone pings. A message from Elizabeth."

If a bell or a piece of metal pings, it makes a short, high-pitched noise (e.g : The lift bell pinged at the fourth floor. A metallic ping.)

to come across NB : rencontré dans "I don't want this to come across the wrong way... Can I give you my number ?" (dit à un inconnu qui vient de l'aider sur un parking)

If someone or what they are saying comes across in a particular way, they make that impression on people who meet them or are listening to them (e.g : When sober he can come across as an extremely pleasant and charming young man. He came across very, very well.)

to blow one's own trumpet = to blow one's own horn

If you blow your own trumpet or blow your own horn, you tell people that you are very clever or successful.

your usual... NB : lu dans : "He's your usual, self-confident, French type." (elle parle de l'assistant de français, qu'elle accuse de flirter)

In spoken English, a speaker sometimes uses your before an adjective such as 'typical' or 'normal' to indicate that the thing referred to is a typical example of its type (e.g : Stan Reilly is not really one of your typical Brighton Boys. It's just your average wooden door.)

fraternal twin [frə'tɜ:nəl] NB : s'oppose à "identical twin" : Identical twins are twins of the same sex who look exactly the same.

One of a pair of twins, not necessarily resembling each other, or of the same sex, that develop from two separately fertilized ova.

,own 'brand NB : lu dans : "Ron takes a Viennese whirl, to the relief of Joyce who now feels able to do the same. They are own-brand, but there had been a Greg Wallace programme which had said they were made in the same factory as the proper ones." NB : - Viennese whirl : a biscuit with a twisting circular shape, usually in two parts with jam and buttercream in the middle.

Own brands are products which have the trademark or label of the shop which sells them, especially a supermarket chain. They are normally cheaper than other popular brands (e.g : This range is substantially cheaper than any of the other own brands available. Own-brand cola.)

Why do you care ? NB : dit sur un ton assez énervé par un gars dans un pub au téléphone. En ligne, on dit que cette réponse est "confrontational".

Qu'est-ce que ça peut te faire ?

French omelet (US)

The ideal French omelet is simply eggs and butter cooked to have a soft and tender texture. The outside is uniform in color and just hardened enough to stop the inside, slightly gooey egg from leaking out.

commonalty ['kɒmənəlti] NB : lu dans Vanity Fair "I admire that admiration which the genteel world sometimes extends to the commonalty. There is no more agreeable object in life than to see Mayfair folks condescending."

The ordinary people as distinct from those with authority, rank, or title, esp. when considered as a political and social unit or estate of the realm. The common people, people not of the upper classes.

received wisdom

The received opinion about something or the received way of doing something is generally accepted by people as being correct (e.g : He was among the first to question the received wisdom of the time. The judgments expressed are largely what is called received opinion.)

,varicose 'vein NB : - varicose : ['værɪkəʊs] + [-rək-], [-kəʊz], [-kəs] - vein : [veɪn] NB : rencontré dans "Do you have varicose veins on your legs ?"

Varicose veins are swollen and painful veins in a person's legs, which sometimes require a medical operation.

widow's peak

a V-shaped point in the hairline in the middle of the forehead

a whisper NB : nous a été dit dans un musée pendant une visite : "There isn't a whisper of an accent" ou "You don't have a whisper of an accent." (les deux semblent probables sur Google)

a hint, trace or suspicion

a spirit lamp NB : lu dans "The home farm (il est question d'une maison aristocratique) delivered whole hams or a Christmas round of spiced beef, as well as fried bacon and oozing sausages, eggs from their hens, all kept hot in silver dishes with little spirit lamps underneath." NB : - a round : a cut of beef from the thigh between the rump and the shank. - a home farm : (UK, esp. formerly) a farm belonging to and providing food for a large country house.

a lamp that burns alcohol instead of oil to make light

a 'cut-off (point) NB : lu dans "It is 3.15 and my cut-off point for a nap is usually 3 p.m., otherwise I struggle to sleep later."

a point which is a designated limit of sth (e.g : 2,500 g is the standard cut-off below which infants are categorised as 'low birthweight'.)

pullet ['pʊlɪt] NB : [-ət] est possible. NB : rencontré dans "uncrammed pullets".

a young hen of the domestic fowl, less than one year old

a bellyflop (informal)

an awkward jump into water in which a person's stomach hits the water a dive into water in which the body lands horizontally

canker sore

an ulceration, esp of the lips or lining of the oral cavity (e.g : He was suffering from canker sores in his mouth. I have a lump on the inside of my lip and I'm positive it is a canker sore.) NB : un aphte.

a tube NB : entendu dans le métro "I had to wait 15 minutes for a tube.)

an underground train in London (e.g : What time's the last tube ?)

family history

antécédents familiaux (santé)

sponge biscuit

boudoir

sundae cup

coupes à glace en métal, vendues chez Nisbets (sur Internet, peut être toute matière, surtout plastique transparent ou verre)

gay as a picnic basket (slang)

euphemism for extremely homosexual (usually in men) (e.g : Brian is as gay as a picnic basket.) (cf. urban dictionary)

up and down NB : lu dans "As the last 'celebrity' makes her underwhelming entry into the jungle camp, viewers up and down the country are asking the same question : Who the hell is Val Doubleday ?"

everywhere in a particular area, esp. an area that stretches from north to south (e.g : Cities up and down the East Coast are preparing for the storm. Cinemas up and down the country are reporting huge audiences for the film.)

,goodish-'looking NB : lu dans Vanity Fair "Osborne's a goodish-looking fellow, with large black whiskers."

fairly good-looking

to split wood

fendre du bois

for now NB : dialogue Caffe Concerto : "What time do you close up ?" "Not for now."

for the time being

be of interest NB : lu dans "We add the driver, whose name is Marie, another Pole if that is of interest. She also teaches yoga, but that's by the by". NB : - by the by : (old-fashioned) by the way (e.g : He was late, but that's just by the by.) - by the way : in passing or incidentally.

if sth is of interest, it holds your attention and makes you want to learn more about it (e.g : Nothing much of interest was discussed.)

antivax (informal) [,æntɪ'væks] NB : derived forms : ,anti'vaxer (n.) = ,anti'vaxxer (n.)

opposed to vaccination

a Welsh baking stone (vu tel quel chez John Lewis, et un peu en ligne) = a Welsh bakestone (vu fréquemment en ligne)

sorte de pillig en fonte pour les Welsh cakes et les crumpets

chin-chin NB : entendu dans une émission immobilière. Le présentateur le dit à un bouilleur de cru qui goûte avec lui un alcool artisanal.

used as a toast, as in drinking to someone's health

to scrub up NB : entendu dans Dinner Date "They're getting scrubbed up and ready to go."

If a doctor or nurse scrubs up, they wash their hands and arms thoroughly before doing a medical operation. To clean oneself up (e.g : You have to scrub up before dinner. Please go scrub up before you come to dinner.) If someone scrubs up well, they look good when they have made an effort when getting ready to go out (e.g : He scrubs up well, don't you think ?)

addressed to sb NB : entendu dans "It's addressed to George." (il est question d'un colis)

If a letter, envelope, or parcel is addressed to you, your name and address have been written on it (e.g : Applications should be addressed to: The business affairs editor.)

hemmed in NB : lu dans "You look a little hemmed-in on that sofa, Detective Chief Inspector. [...] So why don't we sit you on the upright, and you can talk us through the whole thing ?" NB : If someone talks you through something that you do not know, they explain it to you carefully (e.g : Now she must talk her sister through the process a step at a time.)

If a place is hemmed in by mountains or by other places, it is surrounded by them (e.g : Manchester is hemmed in by greenbelt countryside and by housing and industrial areas. The brick path to the door was hemmed in on either side by tall, unkempt boxwood hedges.) If someone is hemmed in or if someone hems them in, they are prevented from moving or changing, for example because they are surrounded by people or obstacles (e.g : The company's competitors complain that they are hemmed in by rigid legal contracts.)

fall through NB : lu dans : "Josephine once had to spend a few hours with him at the newspaper (où son père travaille), childcare arrangements for that day having fallen through at the last minute."

If an arrangement, plan, or deal falls through, it fails to happen (e.g : They wanted to turn the estate into a private golf course, but the deal fell through. We found a buyer for our house, but then the sale fell through.)

to idle NB : lu devant une école à Knightsbridge "This is a no-idling zone. Please turn off your engine. Your fumes choke children."

If an engine or vehicle is idling, the engine is running slowly and quietly because it is not in gear, and the vehicle is not moving (e.g : Beyond a stand of trees a small plane idled. Her Daimler limo waits with its engine idling.)

to explain sth away

If someone explains away a mistake or a bad situation they are responsible for, they try to indicate that it is unimportant or that it is not really their fault (e.g : He evaded her questions about the war and tried to explain away the atrocities. I had noticed blood on my husband's clothing but he explained it away.)

to indicate NB : en US, on dit "signal". NB : lu dans "Chris indicates left and turns onto a narrow country road."

When drivers indicate, they make lights flash on one side of their vehicle to show that they are going to turn in that direction (e.g : He told us when to indicate and when to change gear.)

a roadmap NB : lu dans "The government's roadmap out of lockdown has touted May 17 as the earliest possible date people would be able to take foreign holidays." NB : - to tout : to advertise, talk about, or praise sth or sb repeatedly, esp. as a way of encouraging people to like, accept, or buy sth (e.g : The minister has been touting these ideas for some time. He is being widely touted as the next leader of the party. A local car dealership was touting its services on the radio.)

When politicians or journalists speak about a road map to or for peace or democracy, they mean a set of general principles that can be used as a basis for achieving peace or democracy (e.g : He also raised doubts about the American road map to a peace settlement.) A road map is a map which shows the roads in a particular area in detail.

around NB : lu dans "She offered to drive me around to her GP."

if you go around to sb's house, you visit them (e.g : She helped me unpack my things and then we went around to see the other girls.)

responsibly NB : lu sur une pub Jack Daniel's : "Please drink responsibly."

in a way that shows that you have good judgment and the ability to act correctly and make decisions on your own ; with good judgment and the ability to act correctly (e.g : Parties are permitted, so long as everyone behaves responsibly. When he saw the crash, the young boy acted very responsibly and called the police. He tried to manage his land responsibly, with an emphasis on conservation.)

over (adv.) NB : lu dans : "When you're over next, I would like you to meet my friend Penny." (i.e : la prochaine fois que tu passeras) "Thank you, Elizabeth, I'll look forward to it."

in or to a particular place, for example a town or someone's home (e.g : Why don't you come over and have dinner with us sometime ? I think the kids are over at Pam's place. Lawrence walked over to the window and looked out.)

masses (of...) NB : entendu dans "There's still masses, masses to do." (il en reste beaucoup à faire, émission de décoration)

informal UK : great numbers or quantities (e.g : Masses of food.)

debilitating [dɪ'bɪlɪteɪtɪŋ] NB : [də-] et [-lət-] sont possibles. NB : rencontré dans un contexte où il était question de crises d'épilepsie. Invalidant ?

making someone or something physically weak (e.g : A debilitating condition. A debilitating disease. Diabetes can be severely debilitating or even life-threatening if not treated regularly.)

(the) next, first, second, etc. time round

on the next, first, second, etc. occasion that the same thing happens (e.g : He repeated none of the errors he'd made first time round. This time round it was not easy.)

viewing public NB : lu dans : "She was watching a reality show, in which a dozen celebrities were flown off to the Australian jungle and had to survive there for two weeks, while the viewing public voted them off the programme one by one."

people who watch television, considered collectively

to house sth NB : entendu dans une émission où on visite un château "They are both writers. Examples of their works are housed here in the library."

A building or container that houses something is the place where it is located or from where it operates (e.g : The château itself is open to the public and houses a museum of motorcycles and cars. Many years later, the temple erected in her name was used to house the Roman mint.)

a bunion ['bʌnjən] (sic)

A bunion is a large painful lump on the first joint of a person's big toe.

a case study

A case study is a written account that gives detailed information about a person, group, or thing and their development over a period of time (e.g : A large case study of malaria in West African children.) A detailed account giving information about the development of a person, group, or thing, especially in order to show general principles (e.g : This is an interesting psychiatric case study of a child with extreme behavioural difficulties.)

Camp Coffee

A concentrated syrup which is flavoured with coffee and chicory, first produced in 1876 by Paterson & Sons, in Glasgow. It is an item of British nostalgia, because many remember it from their childhood. It is still a popular ingredient for home bakers making coffee-flavoured cake and coffe-flavoured buttercream.

a crack NB : rencontré dans une interview de Daniel Craig qui parle d'une de ses rencontres avec la Reine : "What's she like, in private ?" "She wants to crack a joke, and cracked a joke about me. We were having our photograph taken, and she went 'Oh no, he's the one that doesn't smile.' " "Fair enough. Nice crack." NB : to crack a joke : - to make a joke or funny remark (e.g : He's always cracking jokes.) - If you crack a joke, you tell it (e.g : Somebody cracked a joke and we all laughed.)

A crack is a slightly rude or cruel joke (e.g : When Paul made the crack about the 'famous girl detective', I began to suspect that he had it in for you.) Short for "wisecrack" (informal) : a funnyn remark, esp. one that criticises someone (e.g : He made some wisecrack about my lack of culinary ability.)

a bit of NB : entendu dans une émission immobilière "Oh, that's a bit of a climb !" (dit par la présentatrice en arrivant en haut de l'escalier d'un immeuble).

rather (e.g : a bit of a dope) a considerable amount (e.g : That must take quite a bit of courage.)

fear of NB : lu dans Vanity Fair "I know very well that you give me plenty of money. You till it me (sic) often enough. There's no fear of my forgetting it."

the possibility that sth bad will happen (e.g : There's no fear of becoming bored in a place like this. I don't think there's any fear that that will happen.)

where possible NB : lu dans le métro au moment de storm Eunice : "Severe delays due to adverse weather conditions. Customers (?) are advised to avoid the Piccadilly Line where possible." NB : - adverse : Adverse decisions, conditions, or effects are unfavourable to you (e.g : The police said Mr Hadfield's decision would have no adverse effect on the progress of the investigation. Despite the adverse conditions, the road was finished in just eight months.)

si possible

potential NB : entendu dans une émission immobilière "There's potential in the kitchen."

someone's or something's ability to develop, achieve, or succeed (e.g : The region has enormous potential for economic development. I don't feel I'm achieving my full potential in my present job. You have the potential to reach the top of your profession. I think this room has got a lot of potential [= could be very nice if some changes were made to it.])

our sovereign lady NB : un député, en parlant de la reine.

sovereign (adj.) : supreme in rank or authority (e.g : a sovereign lord).

loud (US dialectal) NB : entendu dans une série américaine "It smells pretty loud, doesn't it ?" (il est question d'un racoon mort)

strong or offensive, as in smell

upskirting

the activity, illegal in some places, of taking a photograph or video from a position that allows someone to look up inside a woman's dress or skirt, without the woman's permission (e.g : The term "upskirting" refers to people using cell phones or any small camera to surreptitiously take pictures up women's skirts.)

shower head

the part of a shower that the water comes through/flows out of (pomme de douche)

scorched-earth policy

the policy in warfare of removing or destroying everything that might be useful to an invading enemy, esp by fire

second-hand smoke NB : rencontré dans "Are you exposed to second-hand smoke in your home or at work ?"

the smoke of other people's cigarettes (e.g : Around three million workers are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke.)

motion sickness NB : rencontré dans "How often do you experience motion sickness while in the car ?"

the state or condition of being dizzy or nauseous from riding in a moving vehicle

to be through (to sth) NB : lu dans "Your dinner menu, if the food is not cooked by your French chef, should be written in French. If you could remember all this and dozens more such rules, they promised, you were through." (il est question de livres d'étiquette)

to achieve success in an exam, competition, etc. and progress to the next stage or a higher level (e.g : She's through to the next round of interviews. // "Has she heard about her entrance exams yet ?" "Yes, she's through.")

to check in (with sb) NB : rencontré dans "Thanks for checking in." (à quelqu'un qui est passé s'assurer qu'il allait bien)

to contact someone by making a phone call, short visit, etc., usually in order to make sure there are no problems or to tell them that there are no problems (e.g : My son checks in regularly with me when he's travelling.)

to make one's mark (on sth) NB : entendu dans émission immobilière "Neutral colours. Perfect for the new occupiers to make their mark." (ils refont une maison avant de la vendre)

to change something, or to do something important, so that people notice and remember you ; to have an important effect on something (e.g : He's only been here four days but he's already made his mark. Daniel didn't work here for very long, but he definitely made his mark on the place.)

to cut corners

to do sth in the easiest, cheapest, or fastest way, esp. at the expense of high standards (e.g : We could finish this project early only if we cut corners.)

'dog ,collar

- (informal) A dog-collar is a stiff, round, white collar that fastens at the back and that is worn by Christian priests and ministers. [informal] - A dog-collar is a collar worn by a dog.

to faff around

(UK informal) If you say that someone is faffing about or faffing around, you mean that they are doing things in a disorganized way and not achieving very much, or that they spend their time doing a lot of things that are not important instead of the thing that they should be doing (e.g : It was annoying to watch them faffing around when a more direct response was required. I wish you'd stop faffing about and do something useful !)

circs [sɜ:ks] NB : rencontré dans "under the circs".

(UK informal) circumstances (e.g : I would not attempt it, except in extreme circs. You may borrow nothing of hers under any circs. The best letters in these circs contain happy reminiscences of the dear departed.)

the tube = the Tube

(UK informal) the system of underground trains in London (e.g : A tube station. A tube platform. A tube train.) On the tube (e.g : Guess who I saw on the tube tonight ?) By tube (e.g : She goes to work by tube.)

well + adj. NB : rencontré dans "You are well ugly."

(UK slang) Some people use well before adjectives referring to feelings to emphasize that the feeling is very strong. [= very] (e.g : I was well happy with my goal. The film was well good. Watch out for those two - they're well hard [= strong and willing to use violence].)

to call time on sth NB : lu dans "The 95-year-old monarch called time on her overseas travel (sic) a number of years ago, leaving the duties to other family members. However, it has not been confirmed if she will undertake a tour of the UK." NB : - a number of : If there are a number of things or people, there are several of them (e.g : I seem to remember that Sam told a number of lies. I decided not to go, for a number of reasons.)

(UK) to announce or signal the end of (an activity) (e.g : She has decided to call time on her tennis career. She has called time on her playing career at the age of 38.)

local (n.) NB : entendu dans "Escape to the Country" : "A 16th-century pub, that soon might be your local."

(UK, informal) Your local is a pub which is near where you live and where you often go for a drink (e.g : The Black Horse is my local.)

no probs NB : lu dans : "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," said Val. "That's all right" he said, sitting up. "Did you want a word ?" "Yes - with Danielle, actually." "No probs," he said. "I need a dump anyway." NB : - have / take a dump (offensive) : to pass the contents of the bowels out of the body.

(UK, informal) used to tell someone that you can do sth or deal with a situation easily and without problems (e.g : Don't worry, I'll fix it or give you a new one. No probs !)

a tosser NB : rencontré dans : "No chance of romance with him, as far as I'm concerned. He's a tosser."

(UK, offensive) a foolish or despicable person, a stupid or unpleasant person (e.g : Barry's such a tosser.)

a fxuckwit NB : rencontré dans : "Nobody's interested in that fxuckwit."

(UK, offensive) an unpleasant or foolish person (e.g : Some fxuckwit walked off with my bag.)

capital (adj.) NB : lu dans "[...] eggs, muffin ; large loaf, and butter, not forgetting capital tea. There's a breakfast for you !" NB : "there's... for you !" = "that's... for you !" - used when you are angry or disappointed at the way in which you have been treated (e.g : There's gratitude for you !) - (disapproving) used to say that you think something is a typical example of something bad (e.g : You spend two hours cooking a meal and they say "it's disgusting" - that's children for you !) - used to say that something is a typical example of its kind (e.g : She calls him at least four times a day, but that's love for you I suppose. // She visited him every day he was in the hospital. There's devotion for you. // He didn't even say thank you. There's gratitude for you. [ironic]) - used ironically to indicate a particularly good example of a quality or thing mentioned (e.g : 1982 Willima Least Heat-Moon Blue Highways Satchel Paige - there's a name for you - old Satch could fire the pill a hundred and five miles an hour.)

(UK, old-fashioned) excellent ; first-rate (e.g : That's a capital idea !)

a mo NB : entendu dans "Back in a mo !"

(UK, spoken) A mo is a very short length of time. It is short for moment (e.g : Hang on a mo. // Wait a mo. I'll just get my coat. // I'll be bak in a mo.)

cookshop NB : lu dans "A cookshop or 'ordinary' was something like today's workman's caff, and men in the City and the East End might go for the local delicacy at an eel pie and mash shop (a very few of which survive to this day). For men wanting to talk shop over lunch, there were cosy chop houses." NB : - to talk shop : to speak about one's work, esp when meeting socially, sometimes with the effect of excluding those not similarly employed - a caff (UK informal) : A caff is a café which serves simple British food such as fried eggs, bacon, and sausages (e.g : A transport caff.)

(arch.) a shop selling cooked food (e.g : It was a great contrast from the towering structures that lay ahead, behind, and at both sides of the street, this lone one-story cookshop at once the home of the worst and most expensive cup of coffee money could buy.) (UK) a shop selling cooking equipment (e.g : The interior one is an old Boots cookshop while the shop front I liked because the very old logo was still visible on the wood once the more recent shop sign had been removed.)

'mind,boggling NB : rencontré dans "The mindboggling acreage of bedroom, sitting room and bathroom - althogether about twice the size of Val's house in Yardley - all done out with magnificent vulgarity." NB : - do sth out : (UK) If a room or building is done out in a particular way, it is decorated and furnished in that way. To decorate sth (e.g : A room newly done out in country-house style. They did the room out with balloons and streamers ready for the party. We've had the bathroom done out in pale yellow.)

(informal) If you say that something is mind-boggling, you mean that it is so large, complicated, or extreme that it is very hard to imagine, that it is astonishing or bewildering (e.g : The amount of paperwork involved is mind-boggling.)

lay off sb NB : lu dans : "Lay off Danielle !"

(informal) If you tell someone to lay off, you mean that they should stop touching or criticizing you or someone else, or using sth (e.g : He went on attacking her until other passengers arrived and told him to lay off. You'd better lay off alcohol for a while. Why can't you lay off [= stop criticizing or hurting] the kid for once !)

no such luck "We are forgetting our manners, Detective Chief Inspector. We haven't offered you any cake." She produces a lemon drizzle, already cut into slices, and offers it across. Chris, unable to raise a hand to say no thank you, says "I won't, I had a big lunch." No such luck. "Just try a slice. I made it specially," says Joyce, in a voice so proud that Chris has no choice. "Go on then," he says, and Joyce balances a slice of the cake on his saucer. NB : ne peut pas lever la main parce qu'il est coincé entre deux personnes sur un canapé. "balances a slice" parce que la part est plus grosse que la place qu'il y a sur la soucoupe. NB : - produce [prə'dju:s] : to bring something out from somewhere and show it (e.g : He produced a letter from his desk that he asked me to read. One of the men suddenly produced a knife from his pocket.) - go on ! : (informal) You say 'Go on' to someone to persuade or encourage them to do something (e.g : Go on, it's fun.) - Go on then ! : (informal) something that you say in order to agree to do or allow something that you did not want to do or to allow before (e.g : "Are you sure you don't want another slice of cake ?" "Oh go on then, but just a small one.")

(informal) You can say 'No such luck' when you want to express your disappointment over something (e.g : He must have been hoping for a relaxed time. No such luck.)

not all that NB : rencontré dans : "How often do you bathe ? Jake Gyllenhaal has revealed he doesn't do it all that much."

(informal) You use all that in statements with negative meaning when you want to weaken the force of what you are saying (e.g : He wasn't all that much older than we were. He said it would not be all that difficult to reach a peaceful conclusion to the conflict.) Not very (e.g : I'm not all that excited about going camping.) => pas tant que ça, pas si... que ça

a number NB : lu dans "Queen Elizabeth wore this gorgeous, deep red tweed number while greeting the Emir of Qatar in Windsor."

(informal) a piece of clothing, esp. a dress, that you admire (e.g : That little number is by Dior. She was wearing a stylish Dior number.)

a ,falling-'out

(informal) an argument, a quarrel (e.g : Rachel and Fi had a falling-out and now they're not speaking to each other.)

two can play at that game NB : lu dans : I can't tell you that. I'm a professional. There is an immediate ping back. LOL ! LOL ? Where had Elizabeth got that from ? Two can play at that game. WTF ?

(informal) sth that you say when you intend to harm someone in the same way as they harmed you (e.g : When I found out that my husband had been having an affair, I thought 'two can play at that game !')

to switch off

(informal) to stop giving your attention to someone or sth ; to stop paying attention or to stop thinking or worrying about sth (e.g : If he gets bored, he just switches off and looks out the window. Thankfully, I've learned to switch off and let it go over my head. You may find you've got so many things to think about that it's difficult to switch off.)

to push sb around NB : lu dans "I've been in this job for nearly thirty years and I'm not going to be pushed around by four pensioners." (un policier, à propos de quatre retraités qui veulent le faire venir pour parler d'une affaire) NB : exemple trouvé dans le Collins Dictionary : "I felt the pressure of being the first woman in the job."

(informal) to tell sb what to do in a rude or threatening way (e.g : If you think you can push me around like that, you're mistaken.)

Here's hoping (that)... NB : lu dans "This year is the first Christmas that the Queen has spent without her husband, Prince Philip, so here's hoping that she can safely have some of her family around to offer up support, despite having to call off her large-scale lunch."

(informal) used to say that one hopes something will happen (e.g : Here's hoping (that) it doesn't rain.) It's synonymous with "hopefully", though it is often used more sarcastically or to show frustration or impatience. Many native speakers use it in more of a light-hearted manner. Not many people are serious or genuinely worried about the outcome if they use "here's hoping" as a phrase, it's often designed to lighten the mood if everyone is tense over the potential outcome of the situation. "Here's hoping" is synonymous with "let us hope" or "hopefully", but it is more light-hearted and also offers a more direct "hope" for a different outcome, whereas "hopefully" only suggest an outcome may be possible.

Heaven (only/alone) knows. = Christ (only/alone) knows. = God (only/alone) knows. = Goodness (only/alone) knows. NB : rencontré dans : "Where is he ?" "Heaven knows."

(informal, spoken) You can say ' Heaven knows' to emphasize that you do not know something, or that you find something very surprising (e.g : Heaven knows what they put in it.) Used to mean "I don't know" or to emphasize a statement. Some people may find this use offensive (e.g : God only knows what'll happen next ! Take your shirt off - Heaven knows it's hot enough today ! It was her first holiday in years, and heaven knows she needed it.)

to chaperone ['ʃæpərəʊn] NB : entendu dans La La Land : "My class is going on a school trip. Do you want to chaperone ?" ... "Her mother used to chaperone all the time." (contexte : la fille demande à son père, la mère est morte, le père s'adresse à sa nouvelle voisine)

- (esp. in the past) to stay with and take care of a young woman who is not married when she is in public (e.g : Do you trust him on your own or do you want me to chaperone you ?) - (US) to be present as an adult at a social event for young people to encourage correct behaviour (e.g : Several parents volunteered to chaperone class field trips.)

flat NB : "It's flat ?" (demandé par une serveuse à qui je viens dire que le coca qu'on nous a servi n'a pas de bulles).

A drink that is flat is no longer fizzy (e.g : Could this really stop the champagne from going flat?)

voicemail

- U : a system for recording messages over the telephone (e.g : Staying connected by phone, voicemail and email wherever you are in the worlds is easier than you think. I will leave the address on her voicemail. I always check my voicemail as soon as I get to the office.) - C or U : a phone message recorded by someone when you do not answer their call, or a number of these messages (e.g : I had several voicemails waiting for me when I got back. She gets lots of voicemail on her office phone.)

the golden goose

- a goose in folklore that laid a golden egg a day until its greedy owner killed it in an attempt to get all the gold at once - sth that gives you an advantage, esp. a financial advantage

'skid mark NB : bilan d'une nuité dans Four in a bed : "skid mark in the toilet".

- a mark left on the road by tyres after a vehicle has skidded - (humorous) a mark or stain left in underwear or in the toilet bowl from faeces

'follow-up NB : rencontré dans "We've got Richard Osman's follow-up to his record-breaking crime debut The Thursday Murder Club". NB : Osman [ɒz'mɑ:n] + [ɒs-], ['ɒzmən] NB : - debut ['deɪbju:] + [-bu:], ['debju:] : the occasion when someone performs or presents something to the public for the first time (e.g : She made her professional stage debut in Swan Lake. He started as an actor, making his debut as a director in 1990. Her debut (= first) album. Tiger Woods is determined to erase the memory of a disappointing Cup debut two years ago. Her new detective series will be her debut on the small screen. Five years after her debut, the diminutive star of the Royal Ballet has the world at her feet. It was a dream start for the young player who scored twice on his debut for the club. Maazel studied in Pittsburgh, making his debut as a violinist in 1945 and as a conductor in 1953.)

A follow-up is something that is done to continue or add to something done previously (e.g : They are recording a follow-up to their successful first album. One man was arrested during the raid and another during a follow-up operation.)

gourmand ['gʊəmənd] (formal, disapproval) NB : ['gɔ:m-] existe aussi. NB : rencontré dans "gourmandism", que le Collins donne comme terme dérivé sans le définir.

A gourmand is a person who enjoys eating and drinking in large amounts (e.g : The food here satisfies gourmands rather than gourmets.) ['gʊəmeɪ] + ['gɔ:m-] A person devoted to eating and drinking, esp. to excess.

grave NB : lu dans "Frustrated by the resistance, Mr Putin could resort to using a grave new weapon against civilians, Western powers fear."

A grave event or situation is very serious, important, and worrying (e.g : He said that the situation in his country is very grave. I have grave doubts that the documents tell the whole story. It was the gravest political crisis of his career.)

an avenue NB : rencontré dans "It'll give you plenty of time to look around and try new avenues." (Dit à la personne qu'elle va licencier, mais pas avant six mois) NB : - to look around for : to try to find sth that you want or need (e.g : We've started looking around for a house in Manchester.)

A line of approach (e.g : to explore every avenue). A way of approach to sth (e.g : Books are avenues to knowledge.) A method or way of doing something (e.g : We should explore/pursue every avenue in the search for an answer to this problem. Only two avenues are open to us - either we accept his offer or we give up the fight completely.)

a motor home

A motor home is a large vehicle containing beds and equipment for cooking and washing. Motor homes can be used for holidays or very long journeys.

popular NB : lu dans "Some mistakes are always 'popular' - the third person -s, making questions.", puis dans "A popular idea among language students is that statements are said with a fall, questions with a rise. Although there is an element of truth in this generalisation, it is very far from the complete truth."

A popular belief, feeling, attitude etc is one that many people have : - contrary to popular belief = although most people do not believe it (e.g : Contrary to popular belief, the existing safety regulations were adequate.) - a popular misconception = something that many people wrongly believe to be true (e.g : It's a popular misconception that all women love shopping.)

Beggar-my-Neighbour

A simple card game. It is somewhat similar in nature to the children's card game War. A standard 52-card deck is divided equally between two players, and the two stacks of cards are placed on the table face down. The first player lays down their top card face up to start a central pile, and the opponent plays their top card, also face up, on it, and this goes on alternately as long as no Ace or court card (King, Queen, or Jack) appears. These cards are called "penalty cards". If either player turns up such a card, their opponent has to pay a penalty: four cards for an Ace, three for a King, two for a Queen, or one for a Jack. They do this playing the required number of cards to the central pile. When they have done so, if all the cards are numerals, the player of the penalty card wins the hand, takes all the cards in the pile and places them under their pack. The game continues in the same fashion, the winner having the advantage of placing the first card. However, if the second player turns up another Ace or court card in the course of paying to the original penalty card, their payment ceases and the first player must pay to this new card. This changing of penalisation can continue indefinitely. When a single player has all of the cards in the deck in their stack, they have won. For more than two players, play proceeds clockwise. If a player reveals a new penalty card while paying their penalty, the next player around pays the tax.[

snap (adj.) NB : rencontré dans : "She had a tendency to make snap judgements about people, and developed a reputation for wounding and gratuitous putdowns." NB : - a putdown : A put-down is something that you say or do to criticize someone or make them appear foolish, an unkind remark that makes someone seem silly (e.g : I see the term as a put-down of women. She was getting very sick of Mick's put-downs.)

A snap decision or action is one that is taken suddenly, often without allowing time for careful thought or preparation (e.g : I think this is too important for a snap decision. It's important not to make snap judgments. The opposition is worried that a snap election will be held before they can get organised. He always makes snap decisions and never thinks about their consequences.)

age-old [,eɪdʒ'əʊld] NB : lu dans "It is an age-old tradition that royal brides (and grooms if they choose to have a ring) will have their wedding rings made from Welsh gold - and the gold will be personally gifted from the Queen. NB : from = with (a person or thing) as the source, maker, sender, speaker, teacher, etc. (e.g : A crate made from wood. A letter from Mary. Facts learned from reading.)

An age-old story, tradition, or problem has existed for many generations or centuries (e.g : This age-old struggle for control had led to untold bloody wars.)

expert NB : entendu à Café Nero "You choose. I'm sure YOU'RE the expert." (Dit par un client à un crution qui lui demandait s'il préférerait avoir telle ou telle chose.)

An expert is a person who is very skilled at doing something or who knows a lot about a particular subject (e.g : Our team of experts will be on hand to offer help and advice between 12 noon and 7pm daily. A yoga expert. An expert on trade in that area.)

old flame (informal) NB : lu dans Vanity Fair "Rebecca instantly stated that Amelia was engaged to be married - to a Lieutenant Osborne - a very old flame."

An old flame is someone with whom you once had a romantic relationship, a former lover (e.g : Sue was seen dating an old flame.) A person with whom you've had a romantic attachment (e.g : Sue was seen dating an old flame. She was one of my husband's old flames.) A person that you loved or had a sexual relationship with in the past. NB : an old meaning of "flame" was the person that someone was in love with.

conserve (formal) ['kɒnsɜ:v] NB : [kən'sɜ:v] est possible aussi pour le nom. NB : lu dans "He found not only honey, but also butter, conserves and marmelade then uncommon on the English breakfast table."

Conserve is a type of jam in which the fruit is whole or in large pieces (e.g : Apricot conserve. Strawberry conserve.)

to catch up with sb NB : entendu à la télé "We'll catch up with him in an hour and a bit." (au sujet d'un athlète qui va ramé jusqu'à Tower Bridge)

If you catch up on/with friends who you have not seen for some time or on their lives, you talk to them and find out what has happened in their lives since you last talked together (e.g : The women spent some time catching up on each other's work and families. She plans to return to Dublin to catch up with the relatives she has not seen since she married. She spends hours on the phone, catching up with old friends. I must catch up with you some time.) To catch up with sb : (journalism) to meet up with ; used in journalism to introduce an interview with someone (e.g : We caught up with the writer and environmental campaigner ahead of her book tour.)

to change (from sth) to sth NB : entendu dans Love Actually : "The song is the same, except we changed the word love to Christmas."

If you change from one thing to another, you stop using or doing the first one and start using or doing the second (e.g : His doctor increased the dosage but did not change to a different medication. He changed from voting against to abstaining.) When something changes or when you change it, it becomes different (e.g : We are trying to detect and understand how the climates change. In the union office, the mood gradually changed from resignation to rage. She has now changed into a happy, self-confident woman. They should change the law to make it illegal to own replica weapons. Trees are changing colour earlier than last year. He is a changed man since you left. A changing world has put pressures on the corporation.)

a good clean NB : entendu dans une émission immobilière "After a good clean it will be perfect."

If you clean something or clean dirt off it, you make it free from dirt and unwanted marks, for example by washing or wiping it. If something cleans easily, it is easy to clean (e.g : Her father cleaned his glasses with a paper napkin. It took half an hour to clean the orange powder off the bath. He cleaned the flakes away with his coat sleeve. Wood flooring not only cleans easily, but it's environmentally friendly into the bargain.) Clean is also a noun (e.g : Give the cooker a good clean.)

to cram NB : cramming = le gavage de volailles.

If you cram things or people into a container or place, you put them into it, although there is hardly enough room for them (e.g : While nobody was looking, she squashed her school hat and crammed it into a wastebasket. I crammed my bag full of swimsuits and T-shirts and headed for the coast. She crammed her mouth with caviar.) If people cram into a place or vehicle or cram a place or vehicle, so many of them enter it at one time that it is completely full (e.g : We crammed into my car and set off. Friends and admirers crammed the chapel at the small Los Angeles cemetery where Monroe is buried.) To eat or cause to eat more than necessary.

fair NB : rencontré dans "Excellent, very good, good, fair, poor." (réponses possibles à une question de test)

If you describe someone or something as fair, you mean that they are average in standard or quality, neither very good nor very bad (e.g : Reimar had a fair command of English.)

to disabuse sb of sth NB : rencontré dans une série : "I still can't believe he killed her." "Well, let me disabuse you of that notion." (c'est une policière qui répond) NB : - notion : A notion is an idea or belief about something, a vague idea or impression, an opinion (e.g : I reject absolutely the notion that privatisation of our industry is now inevitable. We each have a notion of just what kind of person we'd like to be. I'd had a few notions about being a journalist.)

If you disabuse someone of something, you tell them or persuade them that what they believe is in fact untrue (e.g : They thought country people liked to please strangers. I did not disabuse them of this notion.)

to dwell on sth NB : lu dans "Queen Elizabeth isn't dwelling on the negative despite this being an increasingly 'tumultuous time' in her life."

If you dwell on something, especially something unpleasant, you think, speak, or write about it a lot or for quite a long time (e.g : I'd rather not dwell on the past.)

to feel sorry for sb NB : lu dans "I feel sorry for you, Nick."

If you feel sorry for someone who is unhappy or in an unpleasant situation, you feel sympathy and sadness for them (e.g : I felt sorry for him and his colleagues-it must have been so frustrating for them. I am very sorry for the family.)

get through sth NB : rencontré dans : "We've all got to do our bit, if we're going to get through the next couple of weeks." NB : - do your bit : If you do your bit, you do something that, to a small or limited extent, helps to achieve something (e.g : Marcie always tried to do her bit.)

If you get through a task or an amount of work, especially when it is difficult, you complete it (e.g : I think you can get through the first two chapters.) If you get through a difficult or unpleasant period of time, you manage to live through it (e.g : It is hard to see how people will get through the winter. We couldn't get through a day without arguing.)

to go on to do sth NB : lu dans "Elizabeth remembers the fox that John nursed back to health with Ron. Once healthy, it had gone on to murder Elaine's chickens."

If you go on to do something, you do it after you have done something else (e.g : Alliss retired from golf in 1969 and went on to become a successful broadcaster. She went on to say that she had discussed it with the Canadian foreign minister.)

over NB : rencontré dans "What brings you over ?" (dit à la police qui vient frapper chez elle très tard)

If you go over to a place, you go to that place (e.g : I got out the car and drove over to Dervaig. I thought you might have invited her over.)

to hand sth on to sb

If you hand something on, you give it or transfer it to another person, often someone who replaces you (e.g : The government is criticised for not immediately handing on information about missing funds. His chauffeur-driven car and company mobile phone will be handed on to his successor.)

have a sinking feeling NB : lu dans "She had tea and cakes served at five o'clock, because she had 'a sinking feeling'."

If you have a sinking feeling, you suddenly become depressed or lose hope (e.g : I began to have a sinking feeling that I was not going to get rid of her.) A feeling that something bad is going to happen (e.g : I had a sinking feeling when I picked up the bill.)

to hurl sth NB : lu dans "Larcombe, who covered the wedding for the Sun, recalls: 'The marriage was when the eggs were going to be hurled. The police presence that day was insane, they were genuinely expecting things be (sic !) thrown and placards and demonstrations, but, on the day, all that happened was they were greeted with smiles and cheers.' " NB : - marriage : A marriage is the act of marrying someone, or the ceremony at which this is done (e.g : Their marriage is planned for September. I opposed her marriage to Darryl.) - placard : A placard is a large notice that is carried in a march or displayed in a public place (e.g : The protesters sang songs and waved placards.)

If you hurl something, you throw it violently and with a lot of force (e.g : Groups of angry youths hurled stones at police. One prisoner set fire to rags and hurled them into the courtyard. Simon caught the grenade and hurled it back. Gangs rioted last night, breaking storefront windows and hurling rocks and bottles.) If you hurl abuse or insults at someone, you shout insults at them aggressively (e.g : How would you handle being locked in the back of a cab while the driver hurled abuse at you ?)

to one's cost NB : lu dans "As young Scipio Nasica found to his cost, the success of the rich was a gift bestowed by the poor." (il s'était moqué des mains usées d'un cultivateur et avait ensuite perdu l'élection)

If you know something to your cost, you know it because of an unpleasant experience that you have had (e.g : Kathryn knows to her cost the effect of having served a jail sentence. There are very few people he can talk to in total confidence, as he has discovered to his cost.)

to liken sth to sth ['laɪkən] NB : rencontré dans : Writing in The Times' What I've Learnt column on Saturday 15 January, Grint explained that his current relationship with Rowling was complex. "I liken JK Rowling to an auntie," he said. "I don't necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she's still my auntie. It's a tricky one."

If you liken one thing or person to another thing or person, you say that they are similar (e.g : He once likened his job to fire-fighting. The pain is often likened to being drilled through the side of the head.)

to look back NB : lu dans "His account is the first more or less contemporary description of Roman political life to survive (Polybius was looking back fifty years or so but also mixing in observations of his own time.)"

If you look back, you think about things that happened in the past (e.g : Looking back, I am staggered how easily it was all arranged. When I look back I can see where we went through. It wasn't such a bad experience when I look back on it.)

to look out for sth NB : lu dans "Ian Ventham was of the same type as this consultant. Come to think of it, he was called Ian too, so that's something to look out for. You know those people. People who feel the world is theirs alone ? All of which is to say that, in one way, I'm sorry that Ian Ventham is dead, but there is another way to look at it."

If you look out for something, you pay attention to things so that you notice it if or when it occurs. To try to notice sb or sth (e.g : Look out for special deals. What are the symptoms to look out for? Look out for Anna while you're there.)

to look to NB : rencontré dans "The past... You're always looking to the past..."

If you look to someone or something for a particular thing that you want, you expect or hope that they will provide it (e.g : We look to others for support, for example in online groups.) If you look to something that will happen in the future, you think about it (e.g : As an organisation we are looking to the future.) To direct your thoughts or attention to sth (e.g : The party needs to look to the future and forget its past problems.)

to miss out on sth

If you miss out on something that would be enjoyable or useful to you, you are not involved in it or do not take part in it, you fail to use an opportunity to enjoy or get an advantage from it (e.g : We're missing out on a tremendous opportunity. // Well, I'm glad you could make it. I didn't want you to miss out. // Don't miss out on the fantastic bargains in our summer sale. // We didn't have a TV at home when I was young, and I felt as though I missed out.)

mop your brow NB : lu dans "Get yourself home, calm yourself down and mop your brow. Be a man and take a defeat."

If you mop sweat from your forehead or mop your forehead, you wipe it with a piece of cloth (e.g : He mopped perspiration from his forehead. The Inspector took out a handkerchief and mopped his brow.)

to nip NB : lu dans "I nipped into Marks and bought a couple of gin and tonics in a can." (entre sa visite au commissariat et le rendez-vous au bus pour le retour)

If you nip somewhere, usually somewhere nearby, you go there quickly or for only a short time (e.g : Should I nip out and get some groceries? Wayne is always nipping down to the corner shop for him. Beasley told me he'd seen you, so I nipped straight home. Can you nip out/round/down to the shop for me? Shall we nip in to the café for a bite to eat?)

to read sth into sth NB : lu dans "Coffee and walnut is Bernard's favourite, but you mustn't read anything into that." (dans le fait qu'elle a fait ce gâteau en particulier)

If you read a meaning into something, you think it is there although it may not actually be there (e.g : The addict often reads disapproval into people's reactions to him even where it does not exist. It would be wrong to try to read too much into such a light-hearted production.)

to roll one's eyes

If you roll your eyes or if your eyes roll, they move round and upwards. People sometimes roll their eyes when they are frightened, bored, or annoyed (e.g : People may roll their eyes and talk about overprotective, interfering grandmothers. His eyes rolled and he sobbed.)

dump a child with sb

If you say that a parent dumps a child with someone, you are criticizing the parent for leaving the child to be looked after by that person (e.g : I was sometimes dumped with my grandmother or left with highly unsuitable au pairs. He can't cope and dumps his two teenage boys on them to be looked after.)

chapter and verse NB : lu dans : "I'm guessing you filled Penny in on the details, John ?" John nods. "I may have overstated my own bravery a little, but other than that, it was chapter and verse." NB : - to fill sb in on sth : to give someone extra or missing information (e.g : I filled her in on the latest gossip.)

If you say that someone gives you chapter and verse on a particular subject, you are emphasizing that they tell you every detail about it (e.g : She came home and gave me chapter and verse about going to his place after a drink.)

"Do I look like I care ?" NB : répondu par la chef d'équipe à une serveuse qui dit que tel jour elle ne pourra pas être là parce qu'elle a un truc super important.

Je veux pas le savoir. C'est pas mon problème.

the last of sth NB : lu dans : Hearing footsteps behind them, they turn to see Elizabeth and Joyce hurrying after them. Joyce has a Tupperware container with her. 'I forgot to give you this,' says Joyce, handing over her Tupperware. 'It's the last of the lemon drizzle. I'm afraid the coffee and walnut already has someone else's name on it.' Chris takes the cake. 'Thank you, Joyce, that will go to a good home.' NB : - "that will go to a good home" n'est défini nulle part, mais linguee le traduit par "c'est entre de bonnes mains", d'où, j'imagine ici, "j'en ferai bonne usage, je saurai quoi en faire" - "... has already someone else's name on it" : n'est défini nulle part, mais l'idée doit être "quelqu'un a déjà dit qu'il le voulait" ou "je l'ai déjà donné à qq" (c'est après un thé, et on a dit plus tôt qu'une personne aimait particulièrement le "coffee and walnut") - Tupperware ['tʌpəweə] : s'emploie comme 'modifier' (Tupperware bowl, Tupperware box).

Last is used to refer to the only thing, person, or part of something that remains (e.g : Jed nodded, finishing off the last piece of pizza. The freeing of the last hostage.) Last is also a noun. (e.g : He finished off the last of the coffee. The last of the ten inmates gave themselves up after twenty eight hours.)

the small print NB : lu dans : "it was a small plastic packet, on the front of which were the words 'HAPPEE CHICKEN BITES', accompanied by a cartoon picture of a purple chicken. Alison turned the packet over and read the small print at the bottom."

PRINT : (uncountable) Print is used to refer to letters and numbers as they appear on the pages of a book, newspaper, or printed document (e.g : Columns of tiny print. Laser printers give high quality print.) The small print of a contract or agreement is the part of it that is written in very small print. You refer to it as the small print especially when you think that it might include unfavourable conditions which someone might not notice or understand (e.g : Read the small print in your contract to find out exactly what you are insured for.) Matter in a contract,..., printed in small type, esp. when considered to be a trap for the unwary.

the scope of sth NB : lu dans "American threw the Boston Tea Party to show exactly what it thought of this (and, although beyond the scope of this book, this explains partly why it is so hard to get a decent cup of tea in North America)."

The scope of an activity, topic, or piece of work is the whole area which it deals with or includes (e.g : Mr Dobson promised to widen the organisation's scope of activity. The scope of a novel.)

sleep (n.) NB : entendu dans Four in a Bed "Sleep was bad. Lot of roadnoise." (évaluation d'une nuité) NB : entendu le lendemain dans la même émission "How did you sleep ? It wasn't a great sleep." (en remplissant la fiche d'évaluation)

Sleep is the resting state in which the body is not active and the mind is unconscious (e.g : They were exhausted from lack of sleep. Try and get some sleep. Be quiet and go to sleep. Often he would have bad dreams and cry out in his sleep. I must get some sleep - I'm exhausted. I can't get to sleep if there's any noise. I woke up during the storm and couldn't get back to sleep. A night without sleep left him red-eyed and haggard.) A sleep is a period of sleeping (e.g : I think he may be ready for a sleep soon. You must be tired after all that driving - why don't you have a little sleep ? He fell into a deep sleep. You'll feel better after a good night's sleep. I think I'll have a sleep this afternoon. She lay down and soon fell into a deep sleep. Karen woke up from a long sleep and rubbed her eyes.) only 2/3/.. sleeps until... : (informal, often humorous) a night's sleep, used especially when saying how far away in time something is ; a childish way of saying how long it is until something exciting happens (e.g : It's only one more sleep till we go to Disneyland ! How many sleeps until I see you again, Daddy ? Only 2 more sleeps till my birthday !)

delicate NB : lu dans "The Queen may be fit, but she is clearly delicate. Any reasonable person would recommend retirement from active work for a woman of her age."

Someone who is delicate is not healthy and strong, and becomes ill easily (e.g : She was physically delicate and psychologically unstable.) If something is delicate, it is easy to harm, damage, or break, and needs to be handled or treated carefully (e.g : Although the coral looks hard, it is very delicate. A washing machine catering for every fabric - even the most delicate.)

numerate ['nju:mərət] NB : lu dans "Literate and numerate workers."

Someone who is numerate is able to do arithmetic (e.g : Your children should be literate and numerate.)

daytime television NB : lu dans " 'Good heavens. She's 95 and has covid. Give her a Lemsip and a duvet and let her watch daytime telly ! Duties can be delegated,' added a third." (au sujet de la Reine)

Television broadcasts that are shown during the daytime rather than in the evening (e.g : Most daytime television consist of rubbish chat shows. Slackers who would rather watch daytime television than mow the lawn.)

provenance (formal) ['prɒvənəns] NB : [-vɪn-] est possible aussi. NB : lu dans "My changing attitude is not all my own work. I am part of a larger social change, embracing veganism, vegetarianism and awareness of provenance." NB : - vegan : ['vi:gən] (seule possibilité)

The provenance of something is the place that it comes from or that it originally came from (e.g : Kato was fully aware of the provenance of these treasures. He had no idea of its provenance. Jewels of uncertain provenance. This raised doubts about the provenance of the painting. I don't need to see a label to identify the provenance of a garment that someone is wearing.)

to come into one's own NB : lu dans "To do breakfast justice at the weekend, we elide it with the midday meal to create the invented meal brunch, which is where some of the dishes of the Victorian and Edwardian country house breakfast, such as this kedgeree (NB : la recette est ensuite donnée), really come into their own." NB : to elide sth : - to join different things together as if they are the same ; to become joined in this way (e.g : For some people, "classy" and "classic" have become elided. One character elides into another because they all speak with the same infuriating voice.) - If you elide something, especially a difference between things, you leave it out or ignore it (e.g : These habits of thinking elide the difference between what is common and what is normal. By eliding the distinction, you are being sloppy and weakening your argument. He attempts to elide the boundaries between painting and sculpture.) NB : - kedgeree : Kedgeree is a cooked dish consisting of rice, fish, and eggs mixed together. [,kedʒə'ri:] + ['---].

To become fulfilled (e.g : She really came into her own when she got divorced.) To receive what is due to one. To be very useful or successful in a particular situation (e.g : Eileen really comes into her own in a crisis.) To become fully effective, used, or recognised (e.g : He has come into his own in the last ten years as one of the most successful advisers in the art world.)

to NB : rencontré dans "John Simpson, the cook to the Marquess of Buckingham."

To can be used as a way of introducing the person or organization you are employed by, when you perform some service for them (e.g : She worked as a dresser to the Duchess of York for nine years. He was an official interpreter to the government of Nepal.)

to kill sth / sb off NB : lu dans "My entire family is trying to kill me off." (contexte : se débarrasser d'elle pour hériter)

To destroy living things so that most or all of them are dead (e.g : Antibiotics may kill off beneficial bacteria.) To stop, get rid of, or destroy sth (e.g : The BBC has decided to kill off some of its best-loved programmes.) If a writer kills off someone in a book, play, film, or television programme, they make them die in the story (e.g : She was killed off at the end of the second series.)

formalwear NB : lu dans "The Monaco royals have been known for glamorous Christmas photos in years past, dressing in their best formalwear with elegant decorations all around. (Although Prince Albert, 63, showed off his silly side on Christmas Day last year, sporting a head-to-toe red getup for the holiday, including reindeer glasses and a Santa hat.) NB : past (adj.) : - used to refer to a period of time before and until the present (e.g : The average temperature worldwide has risen by about one degree Fahrenheit in the past 100 years. I've been walking three miles a day for the past 30 years. He was the fifth climber to die on these mountains over the past two days.) - Past events and things happened or existed before the present time (e.g : I knew from past experience that alternative therapies could help. A return to the turbulence of past centuries. The list of past champions includes many British internationals.) - (literary) Also used after periods of time (e.g : In centuries/years past (= many centuries/years ago) even visiting the next village was considered a long journey. A South Korean newspaper said today the event will be smaller than in years past.) NB : - to sport sth : If you say that someone sports something such as a distinctive item of clothing, you mean that they wear it without any shyness, that they wear or display it in an ostentatious or proud manner (e.g : He sported a collarless jacket with pleated black panels. He was heavily-built and sported a red moustache. She was sporting a new hat.) - a getup (informal) : the particular clothing, esp. when strange or unusual, that someone is wearing, esp. when you think they look silly (e.g : He was in a weird getup with a red wig.)

formal clothes, as evening gowns and tuxedos, worn on formal occasions

to play into sb's hands NB : lu dans "I have deleted the names of anyone we know, for a fact, was never in close proximity to Ian Ventham. That loses a lot of the supporting cast. The fact that many of the crowd suffer from severe mobility issues has played into our hands here, as we know they couldn't have managed a quick dash when none of us were looking." NB : - know sth for a fact : If you say that you know something for a fact, you are emphasizing that you are completely certain that it is true (e.g : I know for a fact that baby corn is very expensive in Europe. I know for a fact that Graham has kept in close touch with Alan.) - supporting : In a film or play, a supporting actor or actress is one who has a fairly important part, but not the most important part (e.g : The winner of the best supporting actress award. Acting the supporting role in a Harrison Ford-type movie.) - to lose sth : (informal) to get rid of sth (e.g : Lose the belt and let's see how the dress looks.)

to act in such a way as to give the advantage to someone

to make for sth NB : lu dans "So far in exploring this period, I have largely kept the internal history of Rome separate from the story of its expansion. It makes for a clearer story, but it tends to obscure the impact of politics at home on relations further afield, and vice versa." NB : - further afield : Further afield or farther afield means in places or areas other than the nearest or most obvious one ; a long / longer distance away (e.g : They enjoy participating in a wide variety of activities, both locally and further afield. You are not allowed to bring plants in from further afield without a licence. We export our products to countries as far afield as Japan and Canada. Our students come from Europe, Asia, and even further afield.)

to be one thing, or the most important thing, that causes or helps something to happen or exist (e.g : Everyone agreed that filming inside a chocolate factory would make for good television. A happy parent makes for a happy child.)

with might and main NB : lu dans Vanity Fair : "Such people there are living in the world - Faithless, Hopeless, Charityless (sic) ; let us have at them, dear friends, with might and main. Some there are, and very successful too, mere quacks and fools : it was to combat and expose such as those, no doubt, that Laughter was made." NB : - a quack : an unqualified person who claims medical knowledge (a quack doctor) or other skills.

with all the vigor, force, or energy at one's command