Glossary

33 terms

Allegedly
adverb
used to convey that something is claimed to be the case or have taken place, although there is no proof.
Example: He was allegedly a leading participant in the coup attempt.
en: prétendumment
APB (All-Points Bulletin)
abbreviation
a broadcast alert from one police station to all others in a specific area, with instructions to arrest a particular suspect or suspects
Example: An APB was put out over the police band for a guy that robbed a bank at gunpoint.
en: avis de recherche / alerte
Boatload
noun
an indefinitely large number or amount
Example: They made boatloads of money from that project.
en: cargaison / tas / tonne
Bulky
adjective
large and unwieldy, taking up much space
Example: Early mobile phones were bulky and expensive.
en: volumineux / encombrant
Bygone
noun / adjective
n : a thing dating from an earlier time v : from a time in the past
Example: The museum consists of a fascinating collection of rural bygones.
en: (objets) du passé
Criterion
noun / plural noun: criteria
A principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided
Example: They award a green label to products that meet certain environmental criteria.
en: Critère
DOA (Dead On Arrival)
abbreviation
used by ambulance services on their report to the hospital when the person they bring is dead
Example: The patient was DOA.
en: décédé avant l'admission à l'hôpital
DOJ (Department Of Justice)
abbreviation
executive division of the U.S. federal government responsible for law enforcement and allied programs and services
Example: The DOJ enforces federal laws, seeks just punishment for the guilty, and ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice.
en: ministère de la justice
Forecast
verb / noun
v : predict or estimate / n : a calculation or estimate of future events, especially coming weather or a financial trend
Example: Rain is forecast for Scotland today.
en: v : prévoir / n : prédiction
Generation
noun
the production or creation of something
Example: The plant handles the region's power generation.
en: production
Get rid of
expression
take action so as to be free of (a troublesome or unwanted person or thing).
Example: We have been campaigning to get rid of the car tax for 20 years.
en: supprimer / se débarasser de
Getaway
noun
an escape or quick departure, especially after commiting a crime
Example: The thieves made their getaway.
en: fuite / évasion
Greenhouse gas
noun
a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, such as carbon dioxide or chlorofluorocarbons
Example: We need a global system for limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
en: gaz à effet de serre
Hustler
noun
someone who tries to obtain money by fraud or deceit
Example: He's not actually homeless, he's just a hustler looking for quick cash.
en: arnaqueur
In a flash
expression
very quickly, immediately
Example: Being in a hurry, she was out of the back door in a flash.
en: en un éclair
Inordinate
adjective
unusually or disproportionately large / exceeding reasonable limits
Example: The case had taken up an inordinate amount of time.
en: Excessif
Lumberjack
noun
a person who fells trees, cuts them into logs, or transports them to a sawmill
Example: They saw a little village in one valley, with lumberjacks hauling huge trees through on wagons.
en: bûcheron
Outcome
noun
the way a thing turns out; a consequence
Example: We are still awaiting the final outcome of the trial.
en: résultat / issue
Sharply
adverb
1.very suddenly and to a great degree 2.changing suddenly in direction and degree 3.in a well delineated manner 4.in an aggressive manner
Example: Prices have risen sharply recently.
en: Fortement / Brusquement / Nettement / Vivement
Shoplifting
noun
to take good illegally from a shop without paying for them while pretending to be a customer
Example: He was caught shoplifting by a store detective.
en: vol à l'étalage
Shortage
noun
a state or situation in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts
Example: The long hot summer has led to serious water shortages.
en: pénurie / manque
Significant
adjective
1.sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention 2.having a particular meaning
Example: A significant number of customers complained about the service.
en: important / significatif
Steady
adjective
1.firmly fixed, supported, or balanced, not shaking or moving. 2.regular, even, and continuous in development, frequency, or intensity.
Example: In order to guarantee a real-time steady electricity flow, the transport network must be continuously monitored.
en: stable / régulier
To break even
idiom
reach a point in a business venture when the profits are equal to the costs
Example: The firm will break even at the operating level this year.
en: seuil de rentabilité
To carry out
phrasal verb
1.to bring to a successful issue 2.to put into execution
Example: The building work was carried out by a local contractor.
en: réaliser / effectuer / mener
To cope
verb
deal effectively with something difficult
Example: The emergency services are working at full stretch today to cope with the accident.
en: faire face
To expunge
verb
destroy, obliterate, or strike out records or information in files, computers, and other depositories
Example: The majority of states allow people to have their criminal records expunged, depending on the laws within the jurisdiction.
en: effacer
To go out of business
phrase
when a compagny has to stop trading because it is not making enough money
Example: If we sold food at those prices we’d soon go out of business.
en: faire faillite
To oust
verb
to drive out or expel (someone) from a position of power, job, place or place
Example: Police are trying to oust drug dealers from the city.
en: évincer / chasser / expulser
To pave the way
idiom
to create the circumstances to enable (something) to happen or be done.
Example: The proposals will pave the way for a resolution to the problem.
en: Ouvrir la voie
To poke around
verb
look around a place, typically in search of something
Example: She poked about in the cupboard for a minute or two, but couldn't find what she wanted.
en: fouiller
To push one's buttons
idiom
to do or say something just to cause a strong reaction or emotion in someone, especially to make him angry or upset
Example: I try not to get mad, but he knows exactly how to push all my buttons.
en: pousser (quelqu'un) à bout
Writhe
verb
make twisting, squirming movements or contortions of the body
Example: He writhed in agony on the ground.
en: se tordre