To phase out = supprimer [qch] peu à peu To stall (play for time) = temporiser
To unwind = se relaxer, se dérouler To tighten = serrer, renforcer, durcir
(bande, câble…) Output = rendement, production To be propped up by = être soutenu par Bondholders = obligataires To be put on hold = être mis sur attente Mooted = discutable To tumble (off, out off) = tomber, chuter Morass = bourbier Deftness = agilité To spur somebody to do something = Scant = léger, parsemé inciter quelqu’un à faire quelque chose
To scant = limiter To foster = encourager, promouvoir
To spare no efforts = faire tout son Muddle = pagaille, malentendu
possible To muddle up = semer la pagaille dans, To stumble = trébucher (on, over => sur, embrouiller les idées de against => contre) To mull over = réfléchir longuement à Buoyant = en expansion (économie) To emasculate = affaiblir Shedding = degraissage (de personnel) Credentials = qualifications Albeit = bien que, quoique Contender = concurrent, (for) candidat Wobbly = bancal, boiteux, branlant (« wobbly markets ») Bailout = caution
To remain subdued = demeurer silencieux Roundly = franchement
To be sitting idle = être à l’arrêt Shortcomings = points faibles
To go on an investment binge = être dans Propitious = propice
une débauche d’investissements Fallout= chute To be far grimmer = être beaucoup plus sombre (« In France and Japan, the Thorough = approfondi, minutieux situation is far grimmer ») To circumvent = éviter To slip back into = retomber dans To snap = to speak shraply = parler Faltering = chancelant hargneusement To stoke (up) = alimenter 9. Be glad to see the back of Be happy when a person leaves. Mistrust = méfiance 10. Beat around the bush avoiding the Decay = pourriture, délabrement, main topic. Not speaking directly about decadence the issue.
to haggle = marchander 11. Best of both worlds meaning: All the
advantages. bargaining clout = pouvoir de négiciation 12. Best thing since sliced bread A good to boot out = mettre à la porte invention or innovation. A good idea or plan. murky = glauque, trouble 13. Bite off more than you can chew To take on a task that is way too big.
1. A hot potato Speak of an issue (mostly 14. Blessing in disguise Something good current) which many people are talking that isn’t recognized at first. about and which is usually disputed 15. Burn the midnight oil To work late 2. A penny for your thoughts A way of into the night, alluding to the time before asking what someone is thinking electric lighting.
3. Actions speak louder than words 16. Can’t judge a book by its cover: People’s intentions can be judged better Cannot judge something primarily on by what they do than what they say. appearance.
4. Add insult to injury to further a loss 17. Caught between two stools: When with mockery or indignity; to worsen an someone finds it difficult to choose unfavorable situation. between two alternatives.
5. At the drop of a hat Meaning: without 18. Costs an arm and a leg :This idiom is any hesitation; instantly. used when something is very expensive.
6. Back to the drawing board When an 19. Cross that bridge when you come to attempt fails and it’s time to start all over. it: Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before. 7. Ball is in your court It is up to you to make the next decision or step 20. Cry over spilt milk: When you complain about a loss from the past. 8. Barking up the wrong tree Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong 21. Curiosity killed the cat: Being person Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation. 22. Cut corners: When something is done 31. Far cry from badly to save money.
23. Cut the mustard (possibly derived
from “cut the muster”): To succeed; to Very different from. come up to expectations; adequate enough to compete or participate
24. Devil’s Advocate: To present a counter 32. Feel a bit under the weather argument
25. Don’t count your chickens before the
eggs have hatched: This idiom is used to Meaning: Feeling slightly ill. express “Don’t make plans for something that might not happen”.
26. Don’t give up the day job: You are not 33. Give the benefit of the doubt very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally.
27. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket: Believe someone’s statement, without Do not put all your resources in one proof. possibility.
28. Drastic times call for drastic(radical,
sévère) measures: When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions.
29. Elvis has left the building
The show has come to an end. It’s all over. 34. Hear it on the grapevine
30. Every cloud has a silver lining This idiom means 'to hear rumors' about something or someone.
Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead
to better days. 35. Hit the nail on the head Do or say something exactly right
This idiom means, to accomplish two
different things at the same time. 36. Hit the sack / sheets / hay
41. Last straw
To go to bed.
The final problem in a series of problems.
37. In the heat of the moment
42. Let sleeping dogs lie
Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.
Meaning - do not disturb a situation as it is
- since it would result in trouble or 38. It takes two to tango complications.
Actions or communications need more 43. Let the cat out of the bag than one person
To share information that was previously
39. Jump on the bandwagon concealed
Join a popular trend or activity. 44. Make a long story short
40. Keep something at bay Come to the point - leave out details
Keep something away. 45. Method to my madness
40. Kill two birds with one stone
An assertion that, despite one's approach seeming random, there actually is structure to it. 51. Once in a blue moon
46. Miss the boat Meaning: Happens very rarely.
This idiom is used to say that someone 52. Picture paints a thousand words missed his or her chance
A visual presentation is far more
47. Not a spark of decency descriptive than words.
Meaning: No manners 53. Piece of cake
48. Not playing with a full deck A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple.
Someone who lacks intelligence.
54. Put wool over other people's eyes
49. Off one's rocker
This means to deceive someone into thinking well of them.
Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a
confused or befuddled state of mind, senile. 55. See eye to eye
50. On the ball This idiom is used to say that two (or more people) agree on something.
When someone understands the situation
well. 56. Sit on the fence To hear something from the authoritative source. This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a decision.
62. Whole nine yards
57. Speak of the devil!
Everything. All of it.
This expression is used when the person
you have just been talking about arrives. 63. Wouldn't be caught dead
58. Steal someone's thunder
Would never like to do something
To take the credit for something someone
else did. 64. Your guess is as good as mine
59. Take with a grain of salt To have no idea, do not know the answer to a question
This means not to take what someone
says too seriously.
60. Taste of your own medicine
Means that something happens to you, or
is done to you, that you have done to someone else
