I don’t kid : (colloquial) note the vulgar language of the

gangster.
a breeze : (slang) an easy task, tâche facile ; to breeze, filer.
A crying shame : (colloquial) expression denoting disgust and
anger; c'est une honte
a health kick : (slang) a temporary preoccupation with one’s
health; une cure de remise en forme.
A hundred Gs : (slang) a thousand dollars.
a monkey’s uncle : (colloquial) expression denoting surprise.
a thousand dollars : (standard) $ 1,000. In colloquial
American also referred to as a grand or a thou.
a throw : (slang) the cost per unit of an item.
A.M. : (standard) ante meridiem; before noon.
access road : (standard) road which leads or gives entry to.
accosted : (standard) to approach and speak to in an intrusive
way.
account : (standard) compte en banque.
ached : (standard) hurt, suffer pain; headache, mal de tête;
toothache, mal de dents ; to ache all over, avoir mal
partout.
action : (slang) the activity, excitement.
actuary : (standard) an insurance clerk; actuaire.
adds up : (standard) to seem reasonable.
affect denotes to have an effect on, to stir the emotions of. It
must not be confused with effect: to cause.
aftershocks : (standard) minor earthquakes following the
main one.
ahead : (standard) in advance; to get ahead, to advance
socially.
ain’t gonna : (colloquial) for aren’t going to.
ain’t nothing : for isn’t anything. Ain’t is substandard as is
the double negative.
ain’t nothing : isn’t anything.
aircraft : (standard) appareil, avion; jet-(propelled)
aircraft, avion à réaction; military aircraft, avion militaire;
twin-engine aircraft, avion bimoteur.
alive : (standard) vivant; to be alive and kicking, être plein de
vie; more dead than alive, plus mort que vif.
All right already : an expression denoting that’s enough,
stop talking. This adverb is used colloquially at the end of
a sentence to express impatience.
all smiles : (colloquial) smiling broadly.
all that : for all the talk we heard.
alleged : (standard) so declared but without proof; a common
journalistic term; présumé.
allegedly : (standard) so declared, but without proof;
prétendument.
alright : (colloquial) for all right which is the preferred
spelling.
alternative energy sources : (standard) such as solar power,
wind, oil, water and coal.
American Colonial : (standard) furniture from the colonial
period.
And how : (colloquial) an emphatic affirmative.
angle : (standard) to set at an angle.
anti-intellectual : (standard) more interested in physical
activities.
anti-nuclear village : (standard) a site which would publicize
the dangers of nuclear energy and the advantages of other
types of energy.
appointment : (standard) rendez vous, used for any business
or medical engagement; rendez-vous implies a romantic date.
are out : (colloquial) to suffer a financial loss.
arm chair : (standard) fauteuil.
arraigned : (standard) to bring before a law court to answer
charges; traduire devant un tribunal.
arraigned : (standard) to bring before the law court to hear
and answer charges; poursuivre en justice.
arrested : (standard) taken into custody by the police; arrêté.
as if he was going : (colloquial) for as if he were going. The
subjunctive form of the verb to be after if is rarely used in
speech.
As sure as : (colloquial) expression denoting certainty.
atomic trash : (standard) atomic waste; déchets radioactifs
Ouch , (colloquial) exclamation of pain.
attache case : (standard) a flat case for carrying documents.
attempted robbery : (standard) an unsuccessful holdup.
attic : (standard) grenier.
available : (standard) disponible.
awful : (colloquial) extremely; terrifying, dreadful.
babbling : (standard) to speak foolishly or incoherently;
babiller, jaser.
babe : for baby.
baby doll : (colloquial) term of endearment.
Back Bay : (standard) an expensive residential area in Boston.
background : (standard) origines, formation et éducation.
badmouth : (slang) criticize.
bad-mouthing : (slang) criticize; critiquer.
baldfaced : (standard) brazen, shameless; effronté.
bald-headed eagle : (standard) a bird of prey belonging to the
falcon family; the national emblem of the US.
barbecue : (standard) an outdoor party at which meat is
broiled over an open fire; grillade en plein air.
barrelling : (slang) to go at high speed; a déboulé.
bashes : (slang) parties; réunions.
bastard : (vulgar) a person regarded with hatred and
contempt; salaud.
bat out : (slang) to compose hastily.
battered : (standard) in bad condition, beaten; délabré; also
used in battered woman or wife, a beaten or injured wife.
beats me : (colloquial) I’ve no idea.
Beautiful : (colloquial) wonderful; formidable.
beg your pardon : (standard) I don’t understand your
statement.
bet : (standard) wager; parier.
biddy : (slang) an elderly woman; a contemptuous term. 127
who’d , (colloquial) for who would.
Big Bang : (colloquial) the nuclear explosion.
big cheese : (slang) a very important person; also, big shot.
Big deal : (slang) ironic; indicates that this fact is not
important or impressive.
big fat lie : (colloquial) a gross misrepresentation of the facts;
mensonge.
big rush : (colloquial) ironic, great hurry; hâte, empressement.
big time : (slang) the higher strata of business or crime.
billowed : (standard) to come out in waves.
bird-brain : (colloquial) a stupid person.
birds : (slang) girls; filles, pépées.
birthright : (standard) respectability.
blabbermouth : (colloquial) a person who speaks too much;
jaseuse.
blackmail : (standard) faire du chantage.
blast off : leave (standard), left, left; laisser. Slang
synonyms for to leave (go away), hightail, blast off, breeze
off, cut out, split, vamoose; partir.
blasted : (slang) an epithet denoting criticism.
blind as a bat : (standard) myope comme une taupe.
blockhead : (standard) a stupid person; idiot.
bloodhounds : (standard) police dogs; limiers slats , (slang)
the ribs or buttocks.
blow : (standard) misfortune, shock; rude coup.
blow : (standard) to explode; faire exploser; blow up, faire
sauter;
blow out : souffler;
blow away : emporté par le vent ;
blow over : se dissiper.
blow the jet to Kingdom come : (standard) make the plane
explode up to the sky.
blue-plate special : (standard) an inexpensive restaurant meal
served at a fixed price on a large plate, orig. blue.
board : (standard) monter à bord.
board meeting : (standard) réunion du conseil
d’administration.
boarded : (standard) monter à bord; board out, mettre des
enfants en pension ; board up, boucher (une fenêtre).
bobbing : (standard) moving up and down.
bobcat : (standard) a wild cat with a stubby tail; the bay lynx.
body work : (standard) repairs on the part of an automobile
that holds the passengers.
boiled over : (standard) to lose one’s temper.
bomb : (slang) failure; pun on the supposed bomb.
Bomb Squad : (standard) a special police force that detects
and dismantles bombs.
bomb-sniffing robot : (standard) a machine that detects
bombs.
boob : (slang) a stupid person; nigaud, pauvre type.
booking : (standard) to record charges against; arrêter
quelqu'un.
bootlegger : (standard) a person who makes or sells illegal
liquor; contrebandier de l’alcool.
booze : (colloquial) liquor; boisson alcoolique.
borrowed : (standard) emprunter; to lend, prêter.
borrowed : (standard) to take with the intention of returning;
emprunter.
bozos : (slang) rough, uncouth men; individus incultes.
brakes : (standard) devices to slow or stop the motion of a
car; freins.
bras : (colloquial) for brassieres, undergarments worn by
women to support their breasts; soutiens-gorge.
bread-and-butter : (colloquial) livelihood; gagne-pain.
break : (slang) a piece of good luck; un hasard heureux.
break out : (standard) erupt.
break this case : (standard) to solve this case; résoudre cette
affaire.
breaking and entering : (standard) deliberate entry into
private property.
breath : (standard) souffle; save your breath, stop talking.
breathe : (standard) respirer.
breeze off : cf. leave (standard), left, left; laisser. Slang
synonyms for to leave (go away), hightail, blast off, cut out,
split, vamoose; partir.
brief case : (standard) a flat, flexible case for carrying papers;
une serviette.
bright : (standard) intelligent.
bringing home the bacon : (colloquial) earning a living.
broke down : (standard) to give way to tears; s'effondra.
broke the law : (standard) enfreindre la loi.
brother-in-law : (standard) beau-frère.
bub : (slang) brother, boy.
buck : (slang) dollar; also, greenback, smacker, fish, skin.
bucks : (slang) dollars.
bucks : (slang) dollars.
bud : (colloquial) close friend, comrade; buddy, copain.
bug : (slang) to irritate, annoy.
bugs : (slang) tiny microphones hidden to record conversation
secretely; micros secrets.
built-in : (standard) intrinsic, not movable or detachable;
built-in bathtub, built-in cabinets; placards incorporés ou
encastrés. built-in (standard) made as part of the structure.
bull : (slang) foolish talk; short for bull-shit , (vulgar).
bull’s-eye : (standard) a direct hit.
bullet : (standard) balle.
bullhorn : (standard) a portable electronic voice amplifier.
bunch : (standard) group; to bunch up, to crowd together.
bundle : (slang) a large amount of money.
bundle : (slang) a large amount of money.
burgers : (standard) hamburgers.
burglar : (standard) the person who breaks into a building to
commit theft or other felony; cambrioleur.
business : (standard) work, commerce.
bust : (slang) arrest, taking into custody; arrestation.
bust : (slang) failure; échec.
busted : (slang) arrested; arrêté par la police.
buttocks : (standard) bottom; derrière, fesses.
buy groceries : (standard) to shop for food; faire les courses.
by six : (standard) any time before or at six o’clock.
Bye : (colloquial) contraction for goodbye.
calm : (standard) tranquil, serene, peaceful, self-controlled.
calm down : (standard) se modérer; to keep calm, rester
calme; calm yourself, remettez-vous.
came down in buckets : (standard) to rain heavily; pleuvoir à
seaux.
Can you believe it : (colloquial) expression denoting
disbelief.
care : for instead of would you care : for.
careful : (standard) cautious, wary; soigneux, attentif ;
prudent, since both are suspicious and uneasy.
careless : irréfléchi, négligent.
neglectful : irréfléchi, négligent.
heedless : irréfléchi, négligent.
cash : (standard) argent liquide.
cash-and-carry : (standard) with cash payments and no
delivery; payer et emporter.
cat : (slang) man; type, mec.
catch my breath : (standard) breathe normally; also, out of
breath hors d’haleine.
catty-comer : (standard) diagonally.
cause : for because
cautious : (standard) careful to avoid danger; wary; prudent,
antonym, daring, willing to take risks, téméraire.
chagrin : (standard) a feeling of embarrassment.
chain-link : (standard) a flexible series of joined links, usually
of metal.
char-broiled : (standard) cooked on charcoal.
charged : (standard) accused; inculpé.
charges : (standard) accusations; inculpation.
cheap : (standard) inexpensive; pas cher. (standard) of poor
quality; de mauvaise qualité.
cheating on : (slang) to be sexually unfaithful. to be
unfaithful; tromper son époivc(se).
check : (colloquial) everything is all right. (colloquial) O.K.,
I’ll do it, I understand; d'accord. check (standard) verify.
check out : (colloquial) to test for accuracy; vérifier; to check
out from a hotel, régler sa note.
Checking : (standard) working with; consulter l'ordinateur.
cheer up : (colloquial) don’t be depressed or sad; courage
Chef : (standard) head cook; French culinary terms carry more
prestige than English ones.
Chevy : (colloquial) contraction for Chevrolet. Other well-
known makes of cars are Cadillac, Buick, Plymouth, Chrysler,
Ford, Lincoln Continental. Recent colloquial terms for cars are
'limo (limousine), 'stretch limo (an oversized limousine used
by government personnel and others. It can be hired to
transport passengers to and from airports, train stations, etc.).
chewing the rag : (slang) chatting, bavarder.
chick : (slang) young woman; jeune fille, nana.
chicken à la king : (standard) pieces of chicken cooked in a
cream sauce, an inexpensive dish.
chicks : (slang) young women; nanas.
child support : (standard) money awarded to a divorced
woman with children to raise.
chip on his shoulder : (colloquial) quarrelsome.
choked up : (colloquial) unable to act because of fear.
churchgoing : (standard) attending church services regularly;
pratiquant.
chute : (standard) an inclined passage down which objects
may slide; glissière.
circuitry : (standard) the system of an electric circuit as in a
computer.
circulation : (standard) tirage.
circumstantial evidence : (standard) indirect evidence;
preuves indirectes.
claimed : (standard) to state as a fact (something that may be
called into question).
claws : (standard) sharp, hooked or curved structures; pinces.
clear out : (colloquial) to depart; partir en vitesse.
cleared it out : (standard) emptied it of people.
clinically dead : (standard) considered dead according to
scientific norms.
close : (standard) fermer. Quick for quickly. (standard)
near; près ; antonym, far, loin.
closed : (standard) the price at which the last sale on an
organized market is made on a particular day.
close-up : (standard) an enlarged and detailed picture.
cloudburst : (standard) a sudden, very heavy rain.
cocaine : (standard) a narcotic obtained from dried coca
leaves.
cockeyed : (slang) crazy; mistaken; fou.
cockpit : (standard) poste de pilotage.
coke : (slang) cocaine.
Cokes : (colloquial) Cocas.
cold snap : (standard) a sudden brief spell of cold weather.
collapse : (standard) fall; effondrement.
comball : (slang) banal, old-fashioned.
Come off it : (slang) stop talking like that.
comedy of errors : (standard) an amusing combination of
mistakes, from the title of Shakespeare’s play. (standard)
comic errors or mistakes.
comforter : (standard) a quilted bed covering.
Coming up : (colloquial) the drink will be ready in a moment.
(standard) soon; on the way; ça arrive; c'est bientôt là.
commandeering : (standard) to take forcibly; réquisitionner.
common : (standard) ordinary, vulgar; here, pun on “in
common”, line above.
commune : (standard) a community of young people in the
sixties, often composed of hippies or dropouts.
complaint department : (standard) department in a shop
where customers can complain about the goods or service.
complaint department : (standard) service des réclamations.
computer : (standard) an electronic machine which stores
information and performs rapid calculations; ordinateur.
computer programs : (standard) la programmation
informatique.
concealed : (standard) hidden; caché.
condominium : (standard) an arrangement under which a
tenant in an apartment building holds full title to his unit and
joint ownership in the common grounds; appartement en
copropriété.
confess : (standard) to admit a crime; avouer.
conk out : (slang) to faint; s'évanouir.
connection : (slang) a person who sells narcotics to addicts.
conspiracy : (standard) planning and acting together secretly
for unlawful purposes; complot.
constitutional right : (standard) the Bill of Rights, the first
Ten Amendments to the US Constitution, protects the accused
in the courts allowing them a fair trial, use of a lawyer and
confrontation of witnesses.
containment towers : (standard) the towers which house
nuclear reactors in a nuclear plant.
contingency plans : (standard) plans for an emergency or
unforeseen event.
contritely : (standard) d’un air pénitent, contrit.
controlled substance : (standard) a legal term to denote drugs
that come under certain laws concerning narcotics.
Cool it : (slang) relax; calm down; cool cat, type à la page.
cop : (slang) a policeman; flic.
cop out : (slang) to confess to the police
to go back on a promise : se “déglonfler
big bucks : (slang) a large sum of money; une grosse somme
d'argent
defend : (standard) to act as his lawyer for the defense.
corns : (standard) cors; to tread on someone’s corns,
marcher sur les pieds de quelqu'un; froisser quelqu'un.
coronary : (colloquial) a coronary thrombosis; infarctus.
cotton-picking : (slang) detestable, worthless, odious,
abhorrent, obnoxious, dislikable, disgusting.
couch : (standard) sofa; canapé; easy chairs , (standard)
fauteuils.
could’ve : (colloquial) for could have; aurait pu.
counter : (standard) le comptoir.
cover : (standard) to keep in sight.
covered : (standard) to point a firearm at; tenir en joue.
crack of dawn : (standard) very early; à l'aube.
cramp his style : (slang) to hamper his usual skill in seducing
women; le priver de ses moyens.
crazy : (colloquial) fou. Other colloquial synonyms are bugs,
screwy, bananas, goofy, nutty, wacko.
cremates : (standard) incinérer; brûler.
crew : (standard) équipage (pour un bateau ou avion).
crisp : (standard) fresh and invigorating, bracing; frais.
cross us up : (standard) to deceive or double cross us.
crowds : (standard) large numbers of people; des Joules.
crush : (standard) a crowded mass of people; la cohue.
Cuba Libre : (standard) a drink of Cuban rhum and Coca
Cola; also, the slogan during the Spanish-American War.
culprit : (standard) a person accused of a crime or offence;
accusé.
culvert : (standard) a drain that passes under a road.
cup cake : (colloquial) term of endearment based, like those
above, on sweet-tasting foods.
custody : (standard) care, guardianship of a child.
cut : (slang) a share of the profits.
cut it out : (colloquial) stop it; arrête, tais-toi.
cut out : (slang) to leave suddenly; partir subitement. cf. leave
(standard), left, left; laisser. Slang synonyms for to leave
(go away), hightail, blast off, breeze off, split, vamoose;
partir.
cut the gab : (slang) to stop talking; talk, rap, gas, yackety-
yak , (slang).
cut off : (standard) déshériter.
cute : (colloquial) clever, sharp, shrewd; adroit, ingénieux.
dad-blasted : (colloquial) expresssion of annoyance. (slang)
interjection expressing anger or irritation.
damage : (standard) injury and harm; dégâts.
damn : (colloquial) an interjection expressing anger.
Damned : (colloquial) exclamation; euphemism for damn.
damned : (colloquial) expressing anger.
dare : (standard) oser; negatives, dare not or daren’t.
dash : (standard) to run rapidly; courir à toute vitesse.
day shift : (standard) équipe de jour; night shift, équipe de
nuit.
deadbeat : (slang) someone who avoids payment; mauvais
payeur.
deadline : (standard) date ou heure limite.
deal : (slang) to sell drugs. (slang) transaction, here in selling
drugs.
dealing : (standard) selling drugs; vendre de la drogue.
dealings : (standard) contacts; transactions.
death benefits : (standard) money received by a widow on the
death of her spouse.
deliver : (standard) livrer.
demonstrators : (standard) manifestants.
Department of Labor : (standard) ministère du Travail.
department store : (standard) a large shop comprising
different departments; grand magasin.
deposits : (standard) money put in a bank; dépôts.
depression : (standard) the 1930s crash of the stock market;
see note Section IIL faded , (standard) déteindre.
deputies : (standard) assistants to the sheriff.
desktop computers : (standard) recent, small computers that
can be placed on a table or desk.
detectives : (standard) private eye, dick, fuzz, narc , (slang).
did him in : (slang) to kill.
did tell : for told. The use of the auxiliary verb underlines
or emphasizes the fact of telling.
dig : (colloquial) a sarcastic comment; allusion, critique.
diner : (standard) a small restaurant.
disgruntled : (standard) discontented; contrarié.
disheartened : (standard) discouraged; découragé.
distract : (standard) détourner Vattention de.
distraught : (standard) extremely troubled; affolé, angoissé.
(standard) extremely upset; angoissée, folle de douleur.
District Court : (standard) a court of general jurisdiction;
sometimes, a federal court sitting in each district of the US; un
tribunal.
ditch : (standard) fossé; to ditch someone , (slang), plaquer
quelqu un.
dive : (standard) dived, dived or dove; plonger.
dizzy : (standard) pris de vertige; dizzy dame , (slang) fille
bêtasse. 140 wobble , (standard) to shake or tremble;
chanceler.
do me in : (slang) kill me; me tuer.
do the job for you : (standard) to kill you off.
do you have : for have you Americans tend to use the
auxiliary do with have in the interrogative.
doggedly : (standard) stubbornly; avec ténacité.
do-gooder : (colloquial) an idealistic person who wants to
correct social ills, but does so in an impractical way.
doing his own thing : (slang) to follow his own predilections;
agir selon sa guise.
domestic : (standard) family; domestic policy of a nation as
opposed to foreign policy, politique extérieure.
don’t : for does not in substandard speech.
don’t follow : (colloquial) I do not understand; je ne
comprends pas. The standard meaning of follow is to go after;
suivre.
Don’t make me laugh : (colloquial) expression of disbelief.
don’t they : (colloquial) note the negative tag with the
positive sentence; n'est-ce pas
don’t time : (standard) do not be troublesome.
dope : (slang) a stupid person.
double-crosser : (colloquial) a treacherous person; filou, faux
jeton.
double-crossing : (standard) treacherous.
Douglas fir : (standard) a tall evergreen tree of the pine family
found in the west of N. America.
downbeat : (colloquial) pessimistic; compare with upbeat,
optimistic, used for entertaining films or plays.
downright : (standard) absolutely; tout à fait.
downtown : (standard) the main business section of a city;
centre ville.
drag : (standard) to pull along the ground; traîner.
dragnet : (standard) a network for catching criminals; cordon
de police.
drain ditch : (standard) storm drain.
drawn : (standard) ready to shoot.
dripped : (standard) to fall in drops; to trickle; Veau qui
tombe en gouttes.
drop in : (standard) to pay a casual visit.
drop in the bucket : (standard) very little. small.
dropout : (standard) a student who withdraws from school
before graduating.
drown : (standard) noyer; to be so loud as to overcome, to
drown out the music; to get rid of, to drown one’s worries
in drink.
drug store : (standard) a store where medical prescriptions are
filled and a wide variety of merchandise sold.
druthers : (colloquial) choice.
due to : (standard) because of, caused by.
duffel bag : (standard) a large cloth bag; sac marin.
dumb : (colloquial) stupid; bête.
dumbbell : (slang) a stupid person; also, dumb, dumbhead,
dumb bunny, dumb cluck, dumb Dora.
dumped : (standard) to throw out, to unload; décharger,
déverser.
dunning : (standard) to ask repeatedly for money; importuner.
86 alimony , (standard) money awarded to a wife in a divorce
settlement; pension alimentaire.
dye : (standard) teinture.
earn my living : (standard) gagner ma vie; standard of
living, niveau de vie.
earthquake : (standard) tremblement de terre.
electric bills : (standard) factures d'électricité.
elevator : (standard) lift; ascenseur.
emergency equipment : (standard) matériel, installations de
secours.
emergency exit : (standard) sortie de secours.
employees : also spelled in American employes; employés.
end up with : (colloquial) se trouver avec. end up with,
(colloquial) the result is.
enemies : (standard) synonyms, adversaries, assailants, foes;
antonyms, friends, buddies, pals, playmates; copains.
enjoy, enjoy : for enjoy yourself or it.
entombment : (standard) mise au tombeau.
entrapping : (standard) to catch as in a trap.
epicenter : (standard) the area of the earth’s surface, directly
above the place of origin of an earthquake.
erupted : (standard) éclater, exploser.
escaped injury : (standard) not hurt; sortir indemne.
evidence : (standard) proof; les preuves.
exited : (standard) to leave; exit, la sortie.
expertise : (standard) skill; here, rhyming with “cheese”.
eye teeth : (standard) upper canines; something of great value.
fabulous : (colloquial) very good, wonderful.
facility : (standard) a building that makes possible some
activity.
facts of life : (standard) basic information about life, usually
harsh or unpleasant; les réalités de la vie.
fads : (standard) temporary customs, styles or fashions.
fair : (standard) beau temps;
cloudy : nuageux
foggy : avec du brouillard;
hail : grêle;
overcast : ciel couvert;
rain : pluie ;
showers : averses;
snow : neige;
stormy : orageux.
fair and sunny : (standard) cloudless with bright sunshine.
fall : (standard) autumn.
falling apart : (colloquial) breaking down.
faraway : (standard) lointain ; sun spots, taches solaires.
fasten seat belt : (standard) attachez votre ceinture.
fat : (colloquial) large.
fat cats : (slang) rich and-or powerful men; fat chance,
chance minime.
feathered : (standard) couvert de plumes.
feature story : (standard) a special article in a newspaper.
Federal : (standard) of the central government of the US.
federal safety standards : (standard) set by the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission.
feet : (standard) one foot is 0,3048 meter.
felled : (standard) to knock down; terrassés.
felony : (standard) a major crime as opposed to
fence : (standard) clôture; to sit on the fence, ménager la
chèvre et le chou.
fender : (standard) any of the metal frames over the wheels of
an automobile; garde-boue ; Vaile.
fill me in on : (colloquial) give me the missing details.
fill the bill : (colloquial) meet the required conditions.
fine and dandy : (colloquial) first rate, perfect; here, sarcastic.
fire hoses : (standard) tuyaux de pompe à incendie.
fired : (standard) dismissed from one’s position; renvoyé.
firemen : (standard) men specialized in fighting fires;
pompiers.
first thing : (standard) the first appointment.
fist fights : (standard) coups de.poing.
fitted : (standard) équipé.
fizzled out : (colloquial) to fail or malfunction; ne pas aboutir.
flabby : (standard) limp, flaccid; flasque.
Flapjacks : (standard) pancakes; crêpes.
flaring up : (standard) becoming angry.
flash : (standard) a brief display of thought.
flash floods : (standard) sudden, violent floods.
flatfoot : (slang) a policeman.
flawlessly : (standard) perfectly; parfaitement.
fled : (standard) flee, fled, fled; s'enfuir.
fleeing : (standard) running away; prendre la fuite.
flight : (standard) vol.
flight deck : (standard) the cabin on a plane for pilot and
crew. 74 buster , (colloquial) man, boy, fellow; a term of
contempt.
flight path : (standard) trajectoire de vol; flight personnel,
personnel navigant; maiden flight, vol inaugural.
flight time : (standard) durée du vol.
flipping out : (slang) to lose one’s self-control; to flip one’s
lid, exploser de colère.
flooded : (standard) inondé; to flood the motor or the
market with, inonder le carburateur ou le marché de.
floors : (standard) étages.
flying off the handle : (colloquial) to become suddenly or
violently angry; sortir de ses gonds.
folding money : (colloquial) paper money; billets de banque.
folks : (standard) a common form of address; gens, tout le
monde; one’s folks, les parents; 'folksy, amical.
follow : (standard) understand the continuity or logic of.
following in his footsteps : (standard) doing or being the
same as; suivre les traces de.
for crying out loud : (colloquial) expression denoting
anger.For crying out loud (colloquial) expression of
annoyance or surprise at another’s stupidity.
for free : (colloquial) free of charge; gratuitement. for free
(slang) free of charge; gratuit sport , (standard) a
sportsmanlike person; here, ironic.
for heaven’s sake : (colloquial) exclamation of surprise.
for sure : (colloquial) certain; c'est sûr.
for sure : (colloquial) for definitely.
for will.
force open : (standard) to compel, to break open.
forced march : (standard) a walk at a pace faster than usual.
Forget it : (slang) it does not matter; laisse tomber.
foundations : (standard) fondations ; fund, endowments.
frame house : (standard) a house with a wooden framework.
freckles : (standard) brown spots on the skin; taches de
rousseur.
freeway : (standard) an autoroute within a city; compare with
highway which links two cities.
Freeze : (standard) to become motionless; arrêtez.
French fries : (colloquial) French fried potatoes; pommes
frites.
fret : (standard) to be upset or worried.
fringe benefit : (standard) a payment other than wages or
salary made to an employee; compléments de salaire en
nature.
front door : (standard) porte d'entrée as opposed to the back
door.
funny : (colloquial) strange, queer. (standard) drôle; strange,
peculiar, étrange.
furnishings : (standard) carpets, furniture, lamps; always used
in the plural; ameublement.
furniture : (standard) chairs, sofas, tables, beds; always used
in the singular; meubles, mobilier.
fuzz : (slang) the police; the cops, the heat, pigs (offensive).
gaga : (slang) crazy, enthusiastic; fou de.
gain his trust : (standard) gagner sa confiance.
gallivanting : (standard) to go about in search of amusement.
game : (standard) scheme; machination.
garbage : (standard) les ordures.
gauge : (standard) the size of a bore; calibre.
get a kick : (colloquial) get pleasure; kicks, plaisir.
Get a load of that : (slang) expression denoting disgust or
surprise.
get into : (colloquial) to enter, to engage in.
Get off my back : (colloquial) stop bothering me.
get on with it : (colloquial) to proceed; to make progress.
get out of : (standard) to escape from, to leave; s’échapper,
s'évader.
get rid of : (standard) dispose of; se débarrasser.
get that : (colloquial) understand that.
getaway : (standard) the act of escaping from the police;
évasion.
gets 10 to 20 years : (colloquial) gets a prison sentence of 10
getting : (standard) becoming. The present continuous tense
indicates an action that is taking place at the moment.
getting out of here : (colloquial) to leave in a hurry; se sauver.
getting the hell out of : (colloquial) leaving; exclamation
denoting haste and alarm.
ghost : (standard) fantôme; ghost story, histoire de revenants;
not the ghost of a chance, pas la moindre chance; ghost
writer, collaborateur anonyme.
Gimme : for give me.
girlfriend : (standard) 'boyfriend; date or lover.
give up smoking : (standard) to stop smoking; arrêter de
fumer.
glommed : (slang) to seize.
glomming : (slang) to take and hold onto; se coller à.
go broke : (colloquial) to become penniless; nous serons
fauchés.
gobbled up : (standard) to eat quickly and greedily; here, sold
rapidly and in their entirety.
Goddamn you : (colloquial) exclamation of anger.
goner : (colloquial) a person beyond help; perdu.
gonna : (colloquial) for going to.
Good grief : (colloquial) expression of dismay.
gooey : (slang) sticky as glue; gluant.
goofs : (slang) to make a mistake; se tromper stupidement.
goon : (slang) ruffian or thug; type gauche et stupide.
Got : (colloquial) for Have you got
Got it : (colloquial) expression denoting success and
achievement; on Va.
got it down pat : (colloquial) to know thoroughly; connaître à
fond.
Gotcha : (colloquial) for got you, I understand you.
gotta : (colloquial) for got to; scheme , (standard)
combinaison.
grade B western : (standard) cheaply made, formula type
movies on the American west.
granddaddy : (colloquial) grandfather.
greasy spoon : (slang) a small restaurant that serves cheap
food under unsanitary conditions.
Great : (colloquial) excellent, wonderful, formidable.
(colloquial) wonderful; here, sarcastic; formidable.
Great Scott : (colloquial) expression of surprise and fear.
greatest : (standard) best.
greedy : (standard) avide; gourmand.
greenbacks : (standard) dollars.
green-eyed monster : (standard) jealousy; from Othello.
grimy : (standard) covered with grime; very dirty; sale,
poussiéreux.
Gripes : (colloquial) exclamation of alarm; euphemism for
Christ.
grizzly bears : (standard) large, ferocious bears of western N.
America.
groceries : (standard) food and supplies; la nourriture, les
provisions.
Groovy : (slang) a term of approval; excellent, parfait.
grub : (slang) food; boustifaille.
guess : (standard) to think or suppose.
guff : (slang) insolent talk; blague, ineptie.
gunpoint : (standard) the muzzle of a gun.
gutted : (standard) destroyed; ne laisser que les quatres murs.
guys : (slang) men or boys; bonshommes, types.
Guzzler : (standard) a person who drinks immoderately.
hack : (colloquial) taxicab.
half-buried : (standard) à moitié enterré.
hammer : (standard) marteau.
hand it to : (slang) to give credit to.
handcuffed : (standard) manacled; mettre les menottes à.
handcuffs : (standard) manacles; menottes.
handle : (standard) manier.
Hands up : (colloquial) haut les mains.
handwriting expert : (standard) graphologue.
hang around : (colloquial) to loiter or linger around; traîner.
hang in there : (colloquial) hold fast; don’t give up; ne
désespère pas.
hanging out : (colloquial) passing the time. (colloquial) to
show or exhibit.
hangs out : (slang) to spend much of one’s time.
hanker : (standard) to crave, long for or yearn; avoir bien
envie de.
hapless : (standard) unfortunate; malheureux.
happy dust : (slang) cocaine.
hard : (standard) difficult. (standard) severe; dur, stride.
(standard) strict.
hard hat : (standard) a protective helmet worn by workers;
hence, the worker himself.
hard-head : (slang) a stupid person; un ignare.
hard-nosed : (slang) tough; stubborn; obstiné.
harebrained : (standard) reckless, rash; écervelé, insensé.
harp on : (standard) to insist on.
hash house : (slang) a cheap restaurant; gargote.
hasn’t exploded : (standard) the present perfect tense denotes
a past action in the present and is translated in French by the
passé composé, il n’a pas explosé.
hassle : (colloquial) to argue, squabble; disputer.
hauled : (standard) dragged; taken forcibly; traîner.
have to : (standard) devoir; also, must, obliged to, got to.
Have you done : (standard) the present perfect tense is used
here to denote a recent past not specified in time.
headlight : (standard) a light at the front of an automobile;
phare avant.
heap : (standard) pile; tas, monceau, amas.
heart attacks : (standard) infarctus.
Heartburn : (standard) a burning sensation caused by acid
stomach.
heat wave : (standard) a period of unusually hot weather.
Heavens to Betsy : (colloquial) a childish exclamation of
surprise.
heavy : (standard) lourd ; synonyms, hefty, weighty, bulky,
big.
heiluva : for hell of a.
Hell : (colloquial) expression denoting disgust or
disappointment.
hell freezes over : (colloquial) never; le jour où l'enfer gèlera.
hell’s bells : (colloquial) expression of annoyance. (slang) a
rhyming exclamation of surprise or anger.
helluva : (colloquial) for hell of a; exclamation of impatience.
help out : (standard) to help in doing something; aider,
dépanner.
here on : (standard) immediately after this.
Hey, man : (colloquial) a familiar and friendly form of
address.
hidden : (standard) hide, hid, hidden; caché.
high country : (standard) the higher and more remote regions
of the mountain area.
high on the hog : (colloquial) in a luxurious or costly way.
high premium : (standard) a large amount payable in one sum
or periodically for an insurance policy; prime élevée. 99 hardy
, (standard) robust; vigoureux.
highly regarded : (standard) very respected; estimé.
high-rise : (standard) a tall apartment house or office building
of many stories.
hightail : (colloquial) to go or leave in a hurry; se grouiller. cf.
leave (standard), left, left; laisser. Slang synonyms for to
leave (go away), , blast off, breeze off, cut out, split,
vamoose; partir.
high-tech : (standard) advanced technology.
hijacked : (standard) to force the pilot of an aircraft to fly to a
nonscheduled landing point; détournement d'avion.
hiking trip : (standard) a holiday spent in taking long
vigorous walks; hike, une randonnée à pied.
hippies : (slang) young people of the 1960s who rebelled
against convention and turned to mysticism, drugs and
communal living.
hit : (colloquial) to strike. hit (slang) to cause a strong
emotional reaction. hit (standard) to strike, to knock down;
frapper, cogner.
hit his brakes : (colloquial) apply one’s brakes sharply, step
on one’s brakes; freiner.
hit LA : (standard) to arrive at Los Angeles.
hit the deck : (slang) to throw oneself to the floor.
hit-and-run : (standard) an automobile driver who flees from
the scene of an accident in which he is involved.
hitched-up : (colloquial) to marry; se marier.
hock : (slang) debt; in dire straits, criblé de dettes mortgage
, (standard) the pledging of property to a creditor; hypothèque.
Hold off : (colloquial) wait, don’t move.
hold your tongue : (colloquial) be quiet; taisez-vous.
holding up : (standard) to d lay; impede. holding up
(standard) to rob; vol à main armée.
holdup : (standard) robbery; un hold-up.
Holy cow : (colloquial) exclamation of alarm. Holy cow
(colloquial) expression of alarm.
Holy mackerel : (colloquial) expression of alarm; euphemism
for Holy Christ.
Holy smoke : (colloquial) expression of surprise or fear.
home free : (colloquial) to be assured of success.
homeowner : propriétaire.
Homicide Squad : (standard) a group of policemen
specialized in investigating killings.
homy : (slang) sexually aroused.
hon : for honey.
honey : (colloquial) darling, dear; chérie. honey (colloquial)
term of endearment; chéri(e). honey (colloquial) term of
endearment; chérie.
honeybunch : (colloquial) expression of endearment.
honeychild : (colloquial) term of endearment.
hop in : (colloquial) get in; monter dans la voiture.
hope chest : (standard) a chest in which a woman collects
linen and clothing in anticipation of getting married.
hose down : (standard) to water with a hose; arroser.
hostages : (standard) otages.
hot shot : (slang) a person regarded as very important.
hot under the collar : (standard) angry; furieux.
house : (standard) maison; home is often used as a synonym
especially by real estate agents; homemaker, euphemism
for housewife, femme au foyer; homeowner, propriétaire.
house insurance policies : (standard) contrats faits par une
compagnie d'assurances sur Vhabitation.
Housewife , femme au foyer
How come : (colloquial) why Comment expliquez-vous cela
How so : (colloquial) why
How apples : (colloquial) what do you think of that
how’s it going : (colloquial) how are you how is everything
huddled : (standard) hunched up; entassé.
huh : (colloquial) a grunt indicating isn’t it
humdinger : (slang) a remarkable person or object.
hunch : (colloquial) a feeling about something, a premonition.
hundred grand : (slang) one hundred thousand dollars.
hung up : (standard) caught.
hunting season : (standard) la saison de la chasse.
hustle and bustle : (colloquial) drive, push, energetic action;
busy and noisy activity.
I can live with that : (colloquial) I can accept that.
I do have : (colloquial) do here is emphatic; normally one
would say I have the time.
I don’t get it : (slang) I don’t understand.
I don’t know if : (colloquial) a common form in speech for I
don’t know whether.
I don’t for no : (colloquial) for I don’t lie down for any. The
double negative is incorrect.
I feel like : instead of I feel as if.
I get to : (colloquial) ironic expression for I’m allowed to.
I got her : for I’ve got her. In the spoken language
Americans often use the preterit instead of the present
perfect.
I had my heart set on : (standard) I wanted; je désirais.
I hope I paid : (standard) he fears his house will be blown up,
in which case he would need the insurance.
I read you : (standard) I understand you.
I wish you wouldn’t : (standard) expression denoting
displeasure.
I myself : (colloquial) redundant, used for emphasis.
I’d : (colloquial) for I should or I would, the latter being more
common while should is used more for obligation, je devrais.
I’d is the abbreviation for I would.
I’d like : (colloquial) for I would like; j'aimerais.
I’d rather : (colloquial) I would prefer to.
I’ll be damned : (colloquial) expression of surprise.
I’ll see : (colloquial) contraction for I will see which has now
replaced the older form I shall see.
I’m with you : (colloquial) I’ll help you; je vais t’aider.
I’ve a terrible feeling : (standard) I have a fear, a dread; je
crains.
I’ve never been : (colloquial) the negative form underlines the
positive idea of happiness.
If I was : (colloquial) for if I were.
if I wasn’t : (colloquial) for if I were not. The use of the
subjunctive were after if is the correct form in first and third
person singular, but is rarely used in speech.
iffy : (colloquial) not definite; doubtful; douteux.
il flammable : (standard) or inflammable which can catch fire.
inexplicably : (standard) that cannot be accounted for.
stick-up : (slang) hold-up.
tail : (slang) to follow stealthily; suivre pour épier,
Go west : (standard) people have been going west for the past
hundred years to the Sunbelt States (the Southwest) and the
West Coast to escape the Frost Belt (the Northeast) with its
crime and congestion.
illegal : (standard) not legal. Noté the negative prefix il before
a word starting with the letter 1.
in a bind : (colloquial) in a difficult situation. in a bind
(colloquial) in a difficult situation; être en mauvaise passe.
in a family way : (standard) pregnant; enceinte.
in blazes : (colloquial) expression of anger and alarm.
in cold blood : (standard) coldly and callously.
in droves : (standard) moving crowds of people; Joules.
in the chips : (slang) rich, wealthy; prospère.
in thing : (slang) the popular or fashionable thing to do.
in years : (standard) for many years; depuis de nombreuses
années.
inches : (standard) one inch is 2,54 centimeters.
injuries : (standard) blessures, blessés.
inside story : (standard) secret or confidential facts.
installments : (standard) parts of a debt to be paid at regular
times over a specified period; payable par mensualités.
instigation : (standard) caused by inciting.
intellectual : (standard) disparaging terms, bookworm,
highbrow, egghead, longhair, know-it-all, talking dictionary.
intercom : (standard) interphone; intercommunication.
Is that so : (colloquial) expression denoting disbelief.
It must be : (standard) an auxiliary used with the infinitive of
verbs, here indicating probability.
it’d : for it would.
it’ll : (colloquial) for it will.
It’s a crime : (colloquial) it is a shame; c'est une honte.
It’s here where : (colloquial) This is where.
it’s like this : (colloquial) a common preamble in speech to an
explanation or description.
It’s no use : (standard) ce n'est pas la peine; expression
denoting hopelessness.
It’s not like her : for she does not usually.
jail : (standard) prison; state or federal penitentiary; brig,
can, cooler, coop, oubliette , (slang).
Jailbirds : (colloquial) prisoners or former prisoners.
jalopy : (slang) an old, ramshackle automobile; bagnole.
jampacked : (standard) crammed; plein de monde.
java : (slang) coffee; also, pick-me-up (colloquial).
jaywalking : (colloquial) to walk across a street without
obeying traffic signals and rules; inattention de la part des
piétons.
jitters : (colloquial) to be very nervous or uneasy; la frousse.
jog : (standard) to run slowly and steadily.
joint : (slang) a cheap restaurant; boîte de basse classe.
jolt the bejabbers : (colloquial) knock the Be Jésus (insides of
a person).
jolted : (standard) shaken up, jarred; secoué, subir des chocs.
quakes , (standard) shakings, tremors; tremblements.
jumpy : (standard) apprehensive; nerveux.
junk : (colloquial) worthless stuff, trash; déchets, rebuts.
just : (colloquial) quite, really; used for emphasis.
just about : (standard) almost, very near to; presque.
just can’t wait : (colloquial) expression ironique.
just in case : (colloquial) au cas où.
keep us in beans : (colloquial) pay for the basic necessities;
payer le minimum vital "‘the Sam Hill , (colloquial) expletive;
euphemism for hell.
kept : (standard) maintained as a lover; entretenu.
key : (standard) essential, controlling; important.
kicked him out : (colloquial) to expel him; renvoyer.
kid sister : (colloquial) younger sister.
kidder : (colloquial) someone who likes to joke; farceur,
blagueur.
kidding : (colloquial) to joke. kidding (slang) joking;
plaisanter.
kids : (colloquial) children. kids (colloquial) young people;
les jeunes.
kind : (standard) species.
kingpin : (colloquial) the main person; le chef, dirigeant.
kiss of life : (colloquial) mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
kit and caboodle : (colloquial) everything; everybody toutes
les affaires; tout le monde.
kit and caboodle : (standard) everything.
knock off : (slang) to rob; voler, fracturer, cambrioler.
knocking off : (colloquial) to stop working.
laid off : (standard) to put an employee out of work, especially
temporarily; chômage technique.
latch : (slang) take possession of.
late model : (standard) the most recent model.
lately : (standard) recently; dernièrement.
late-model : (standard) a recent model of automobiles; modèle
récent.
Laundromat : (standard) laverie, blanchisserie.
laundry : (standard) clothes that have been washed; lessive,
linge.
law-abiding : (standard) obeying the law; respectueux des
lois. law-abiding (standard) who does not break the law;
respectueux des lois.
lawn : (standard) gazon, pelouse.
lawyer : (standard) a person trained in the law who can advise
others in legal matters; avocat.
lay : (standard) laid, laid;poser ou mettre; lay the table,
mettre la table ; lay an egg, pondre un œuf.
lay my hands on : (standard) to get hold of; obtenir.
lay or lie : (standard) these verbs are often misused, especially
in those tenses which are similar, lay laid laid and lie lay lain.
lead : (standard) a clue; indice. lead (standard) mener. This
irregular verb conjugates lead, led, led and its noun is leader.
leafed through : (standard) to turn the pages of a book so as
to glance quickly; feuilleter un livre.
leak : (standard) fuite ; used in plumbing, the pipe leaks, but
also in the sense of disclosure by a government official.
Lear jet : (standard) private jet airplane built by the Lear
company.
leave : (standard), left, left; laisser. Slang synonyms for to
leave (go away), hightail, blast off, breeze off, cut out, split,
vamoose; partir.
legit : (slang) legitimate, lawful.
lend a hand : (standard) to help; aider.
letting : (standard) allowing; permettre.
letting ourselves in for : (standard) what difficult situation we
were going to be in.
liberated : (slang) to steal; faucher.
license number : (standard) metal identification plates of a
car; numéro d'immatriculation d'une voiture.
lie : (standard) lay, lain; se coucher, se mettre à plat.
lied : (standard) lie, lied, lied; mentir.
life-saving : (standard) designed for the saving of human life.
lifestyles : (standard) ways of life; modes de vie.
like a bat out of hell : (colloquial) extremely fast; comme un
bolide.
like a shot : (colloquial) quickly; très rapidement.
like a ton of bricks : (colloquial) forcibly.
like : for as. Like, the preposition, should only be used
before a noun, he looks like his father.
Like I said : (colloquial) for as I said. Like, a preposition,
should come before a noun and not introduce a verbal phrase.
Like you : (colloquial) as you are.
likely : (standard) probable; here in an ironic sense.
limb : (standard) membre.
linen shower : (standard) a party organized by friends at
which gifts are given to a couple about to be married.
linked : (standard) connected, joined; lié.
liquidate : (standard) to kill, tuer.
Little me : for I who am small. When an adjective precedes the
pronoun me is used as subject of the verb.
local : (standard) of the state or city government.
loneliness : (standard) solitude.
Long distance : (standard) a telephone call outside of the city
in which one lives; appel hors de votre circonscription.
Look out : (colloquial) be careful; watch out; faites attention.
look out the : for look out of the. Here, the preposition is
omitted.
Look who’s talking : (colloquial) an exclamation to show that
the speaker has the faults of the person criticized.
looking to make it : (slang) trying to succeed.
looks like : (colloquial) for look as if. looks like (colloquial)
instead of looks as if (standard).
lose our heads : (standard) to become excited or flustered.
loss of life : (st. ) des morts
loss of sight : perte de la vue
loss of voice : extinction de voix.
loud and clear : (colloquial) instead of loudly and clearly.
loudmouth : (slang) a person who talks in a loud, irritating
voice.
lousy : (slang) poor, inferior; moche.
lovebird : (standard) expression of endearment; here, ironic.
160 Good land a mercy , (colloquial) expression of
consternation.
lowdown : (slang) the true, pertinent facts.
low-priced : (standard) inexpensive; pas cher.
loyal : (standard) fidèle.
lucked out : (colloquial) to meet with disaster.
lucky : (standard) heureux, fortuné, chanceux; also, a lucky
break , (slang), de la veine.
luncheonette : (standard) a place which serves light lunches.
luxuries : (standard) objets de luxe.
ma’am : for madam.
macho : (standard) virile, masculine; here, athletic.
made your point : (standard) to explain one’s idea; expliquer
l'essentiel de ton argument.
Mafia lawyer : (standard) for the lawyer for the Mafia;
here, the noun Mafia is used as an adjective.
Make : (standard) to oblige; to force.
make a break for it : (colloquial) to attempt to run.
make a stand : (standard) to take a position for opposition.
make an honest man of : (colloquial) to marry; ’outa for out
of.
make for : (standard) to head for; se diriger vers.
make it : (colloquial) succeed in getting there on time. make
it (slang) succeed in our plans; réussir. make it (slang) to
succeed; réussir.
make like : (slang) to pretend; to act as if.
making a withdrawal : (standard) pun on withdrawal which
could be legal or by armed robbery.
man-made : (standard) two words joined together to form an
adjective are hyphenated.
maple syrup : (standard) sirop de sucre d érable.
maroon : (standard) dark brownish red; marron pourpre.
may have : (standard) aurait pu.
medium-rare : (standard) ni saignant ni bien cuit.
meltdown : (standard) the temperature at which a nuclear
reactor core melts — about 5,200° F.
midtown : (standard) between downtown, center of the city
and uptown, quarters far from the city center.
mile per hour speed limit : (standard) limitation de vitesse;
approximately 56 kilometers per hour.
mind-boggling : (standard) startling, frightening.
misdemeanor : a minor infraction.
misfit : (standard) a maladjusted person; un inadapté.
misguided : (standard) led into error; qui manque de
jugement.
mishap : (standard) an unlucky accident; mésaventure.
miss : (standard) form of address to a young or unmarried
woman; madam or ma’am to an older or married woman;
mister to a man.
missing : (standard) des disparus.
mistake : (standard) an error; une erreur.
mistaken : (standard) wrong; si je ne me trompe pas.
mixed bag : (standard) an assortment.
modern-day : (standard) contemporary.
Momma : (colloquial) a childish term for mother; also, maw,
mam, mum, mummy, ma.
Mommie : (colloquial) childish term for mother.
money down the drain : (colloquial) wasted money; argent
gaspillé.
Moneybags : (colloquial) a rich person; richard, gros sac.
monitor : (standard) to listen in on; écouter.
moonlighting : (standard) the practice of holding a second
regular job in addition to one’s main job; travailler au noir.
moonshiner : (standard) a person who makes and sells
alcoholic liquor unlawfully.
more of the same : (colloquial) more of the same wet
weather.
mosquito bites : (standard) piqûres de moustique.
Most people : (standard) a witty and often quoted statement.
motto : (standard) devise.
mountain lion : (standard) western use for the cougar, a large
tawny-brown animal of the cat family with a long tail.
mounted : (standard) monté; also, to mount a horse, monter
un cheval; to mount guard, monter la garde.
mouthwatering : (standard) appetizing; qui fait venir Veau à
la bouche.
movie page : (standard) section in a newspaper devoted to
films and actors.
Mr. Big : (colloquial) ironic form of address to an important
man.
mugging : (standard) to assault; attaque à main armée.
must’ve : (colloquial) for must have.
my feet ache : (standard) mes pieds me font mal.
My goodness : (colloquial) exclamation of surprise.
my goose is cooked : (colloquial) my chances are spoiled.
my number was up : (colloquial) my last hour had come.
narc : (slang) narcotics agent.
narcotics agents : (standard) police specialized in drug
control; la brigade antidrogue.
narrow down : (standard) to restrict.
Naugahyde : (standard) synthetic leather; five-ninety-nine :
(colloquial) $599.
nest egg : (standard) money put aside as a reserve; argent mis
de côté.
neutralizes : (standard) euphemism for to murder;
assassiner.
never say die : (colloquial) never give up.
Never you mind : for never mind. The pronoun is unnecessary
but used here : for emphasis.
nightfall : (standard) la tombée de la nuit.
nighties : (colloquial) for nightgowns, loose gowns worn by
women in bed; chemises de nuit.
ninny : (standard) fool; nigaude.
no sweat : (colloquial) no problem; sweat , (slang), peine; to
sweat , (slang), bûcher; to sweat and stew , (slang),
s'impatienter; to sweat it out , (slang), traverser une période
difficile en attendant mieux.
No way : (slang) no; impossible; pas question.
none of your damned business : (colloquial) it does not
concern you; expressing anger; ne vous regarde pas.
nor : (standard) used after some other negative statement or in
the form neither... nor, I can neither go nor stay.
nothing to fear : (standard) rien à craindre.
notice : (standard) to observe, pay attention to, remarquer,; not
to be confused with to remark on, to comment.
notoriety : (standard) the fact of being widely but unfavorably
known.
Now what : (colloquial) now what do we do Used in difficult
situations. Now what for now what do we do
nowhere : (standard) nulle part ; an unpopulated area.
nukes : (colloquial) nuclear weapons.
number : (slang) operations or procedures.
number one : (colloquial) the most important.
numskull : (standard) a stupid person.
nutty dame : (slang) a crazy woman.
o’ : for of.
October : (standard) the months of the year are always
capitalized.
oddity : (standard) peculiarity; singularité.
off duty : (standard) not at work; on duty, at work.
Offhand : (standard) extemporary; à première vue.
Oh, heavens : (colloquial) exclamation of alarm.
Oh, my God : (colloquial) exclamation of horror; oh, mon
Dieu Oh, my God (standard) exclamation denoting fear and
horror.
Oh, shoot : (colloquial) exclamation of annoyance; ah, zut
Oh, yeah : (colloquial) oh, yes; exclamation of disbelief. Oh,
yeah for Oh, yes to indicate disbelief.
Okay : (colloquial) very well.
ol’ : for old. Dropping the last consonant is typical of
southern speech. ol’ for old. The omission of the last
consonant is common in colloquial American.
old bunch : (colloquial) a group of friends; les copains.
old gang : (colloquial) old friends; les vieux copains.
old lady : (slang) wife.
on a budget : (standard) limited by a budget.
on hand : (standard) available.
on location : (standard) outside of the studio; shooting the
exterior scenes of a film.
on our hands : (standard) that we have to deal with.
on our way : (colloquial) leaving.
on tenterhooks : (standard) in suspense.
on the blink : (slang) out of order; détraqué.
on the house : (standard) given free at the expense of the
establishment.
On the mend : (standard) improving, getting better; aller
mieux.
on the prowl : (standard) roaming around; rôder.
on the side : (standard) in addition to the main thing.
on the sly : (standard) secretly; furtivement.
on top of it : (colloquial) moreover; d'ailleurs, en plus.
once and : for ail : (standard) une fois pour toutes.
one by one : (standard) one after the other; each and every
one.
one-track : (colloquial) limited in scope.
ordeal : (standard) a trying experience; épreuve.
ours, too : (standard) our number is up as well; we are
doomed.
outings : (standard) pleasure trips out of doors; sorties.
outskirts : (standard) districts remote from the center of town;
faubourgs.
over : (standard) can indicate space, as here, or time, over
dinner or quantity, over five dollars or repetition, do it
over.
overcast : (standard) cloudy; ciel couvert, nuageux.
overcooks : (standard) trop cuire.
overpowered : (standard) to subdue or overwhelm; maîtriser;
to be overpowered by superior numbers, succomber sous le
nombre.
over-rated : (standard) estimated too highly; surévaluer.
over-the-counter market : (standard) generally applied to
security transactions which take place outside of an organized
stock exchange.
overwrought : (standard) very nervous or excited; excédé de
fatigue.
pack in : (slang) to withdraw from.
pack mule : (standard) a mule that can carry heavy bundles;
baudet.
pack of lies : (standard) a number of untrue statements.
pad : (slang) apartment or room; mot utilisé par les hippies.
pal : (colloquial) an intimate friend; copain.
panic : (standard) affoler; noun, jitters, fright of one’s life,
jimjams , (slang), cold sweats, stark horror, abject fear.
paramedics : (standard) auxiliaires médicaux. paramedics
(standard) auxiliary medical personnel; les soins d'urgence.
parking lot : (standard) an area for parked motor vehicles.
party : (standard) the person to whom one is telephoning;
correspondant.
pass up : (colloquial) to reject.
passersby : (standard) people walking past; des passants.
pat on the back : (colloquial) congratulations and praise.
patch : (standard) tache.
patterns : (standard) regular unvarying way of acting;
modèles.
pedestrian cross walk : (standard) a lane marked off
forpedestrians to use in crossing a street; passage clouté.
pen : (slang) prison; penitentiary.
pensions : (standard) money received on retirement, la
retraite, for which the widow or widower is also eligible.
person-to-person : (standard) a long distance telephone call
to a specific person; communication en PCV.
Ph.D : doctorate, a post-graduate degree.
Phoenix : (standard) a mythical bird which lived for 500 years
and then consumed itself in fire, rising renewed from the ashes
to start another long life.
pickle : (colloquial) a difficult situation.
pieced together : (standard) to join or put together; déduire.
pillar of society : (standard) an upstanding member of the
community.
pink slip : (colloquial) notice to an employee of termination
of employment; avis de licenciement. pink slip (colloquial)
notice to an employee of termination of employment.
pinned down : (standard) held firmly in one position.
pistol : (standard) a small firearm made to be held and fired
with one hand.
pitch-black : (standard) very black; nuit noire. r 43 come
up with , (standard) to produce.
placatingly : (standard) appeasingly; in a mollifying manner.
plaguing : (standard) troubling; afflicting.
plant : (standard) centrale nucléaire.
planted : (slang) to place in such a way as to entrap.
planting : (colloquial) placing; poser (des bombes). planting
(slang) to place surreptitiously.
Pleased to meet you : (standard) a more common greeting on
introduction than the British How do you do
pleasure : (standard) wish; what do you want
plowed into : (standard) to collide forcefully; rentré dedans.
plushy : (slang) luxurious; chic, élégant.
point-blank : (standard) at close range.
poison ivy rash : (standard) a skin eruption caused by the
plant.
poison oak : (standard) poison ivy; sumac vénéneux.
police : (standard) always plural in English unlike French, la
police. police (standard) note the lack of the definite article.
poor eyesight : (standard) mauvaise vue.
Pop : (colloquial) familiar form of address by a younger
person.
pop out : (standard) to move quickly; pop in, entrer à
Vimproviste.
popped off : (slang) died; mourir subitement.
populous : (standard) with the largest population.
potshots : (standard) random criticisms or attacks.
pounds : (standard) livres (de 453,6grammes). Americans use
ounces, 28,35 grams and tons, 907 kilograms but not stones
(Br.).
power outages : (standard) accidental suspension of operation
of electric power.
prayerfully : (standard) as if praying.
Precinct : (standard) a division of a city for police
administration; arrondissement.
Precinct : (standard) a division of a city for police
administration; circonscription ou arrondissement.
Pretty neat : (slang) quite nice; expression of approval.
pretzels : (standard) hard biscuits baked in the shape of a
loose knot.
prime time : (standard) the evening hours when television
attracts the largest number of viewers.
primed : (standard) prepared; amorcé.
probes : (standard) investigate; sonder, explorer.
prohibition : (standard) see notes Section IIL fifths ,
(standard) fifths of a gallon.
prominent : (standard) well-known and important.
prompted : (standard) caused.
prone : (standard) flat, prostrate; étendu face à terre.
property damage : (standard) maisons endommagées.
protesters : (standard) dissenters; demonstrators;
contestataires.
puddles : (standard) small pools of water; flaques d'eau.
puffing : (standard) souffler; puffing and panting, haleter.
pull it off : (slang) to accomplish something; réussir.
pulled away : (colloquial) drive off.
punk : (slang) a hoodlum.
pushing acid : (slang) selling LSD, a hallucegenic drug
popular in the sixties; vendre de la drogue.
put the arm on you : (slang) arrest you.
put the paper to bed : (colloquial) finish working on that
day’s edition of the newspaper.
puzzled : (standard) déconcerté; intrigué.
queer : (standard) strange, unusual, odd, singular; étrange.
questioning : (standard) inquiring to obtain information;
interrogeant.
quiet : (standard) silencieux, not to be confused with quite,
assez.
quit : (standard) to leave; partir; also, to quit a job, resign.
quit (standard) to stop, to give up; to quit smoking, arrêter de
fumer. quit (standard) to stop; to quit work, cesser le
travail.
quite : (standard) completely; very; to some extent; tout à fait;
not to be confused with quiet, calme, tranquille.
quiz kid : (slang) a bright contestant in a television game
program.
radius : (standard) a circular area or distance; rayon. radius
(standard) circular area or distance.
rag : (slang) a newspaper, especially one viewed with
contempt.
Raid : (standard) any sudden invasion of some place by the
police, here to discover violations of the drug laws; une
descente de la police.
rained cats and dogs : (colloquial) to rain heavily.
rally : (standard) a mass meeting.
rambling : (standard) aimless, without connection of ideas.
rap : (slang) a judicial sentence; blame, punishment;
condamnation.
raring to go : (colloquial) eager to go.
rash : (standard) large number.
rasher : (standard) a serving of several slices of bacon.
rat : (colloquial) a sneaky, contemptible person.
rattlesnake : (standard) any of various poisonous American
pit vipers.
raunchy character : (slang) a lascivious man; un lascif.
readership : (standard) le nombre des lecteurs.
reading me loud and clear : (colloquial) to understand
someone exactly; comprendre.
real estate : (standard) land; terrains et immeubles.
real : for really (see note above on sure).
rear : (standard) back; ’em for them.
recommend : (standard) to suggest favorably.
reconditioned : (standard) repaired.
red-handed : (standard) in the act; la main dans le sac.
redwood ranch house : (standard) a large house in which all
the rooms are on one floor built from a giant evergreen tree
found in California and Oregon.
relieve : (standard) délester; euphemism for to take by force.
remote control : (standard) control of an apparatus from a
distance.
repair shops : (standard) garages that repair automobile.
repairs : (standard) fitting for use, mending, fixing;
réparations, dépannage.
reporter : (standard) newspaper man, journalist, columnist.
resent : (standard) to feel hurt from a sense of being offended.
responsible : (standard) note the spelling as opposed to
French, responsable.
revolver : (standard) a handgun with a revolving cylinder
containing several cartridges.
Richter scale : (standard) a scale devised by a US
seismologist by which the magnitude of earthquakes is
measured.
Right : for all right (colloquial), agreed, I understand, O.K.
Right now : (colloquial) at this moment, now. Right now
(colloquial) at this moment; at present. Right now (standard)
at this very moment.
Right on : (slang) absolutely correct.
ring : (standard) a group of people working together to
advance their own (usually illegal) interests.
Riot state police : (standard) the police force of a state
specially trained to curb demonstrations.
rip up : (standard) to tear up; déchirer.
ripped : (slang) to steal; swipe, hustle, lift, pinch , (slang)
roast : (standard) to cook a piece of meat; to burn; rôtir,
brûler.
rock slides : (standard) glissements de rochers.
rock slippages : (standard) slipping rocks.
rolling in dough : (slang) possessing a great deal of money;
richissime.
roster : (standard) any list.
roughly : (standard) about; approximativement.
round the bend : (colloquial) crazy; fou.
rounded up : (colloquial) to gather or assemble; arrest.
RS : (standard) Internal Revenue Service; Direction générale
des Impôts.
rugged : (standard) severe, harsh; rude. rugged (standard)
uneven in surface.
rumbling : (standard) grondement; stomach rumblings,
borborygmes.
run over : (standard) to drive over with an automobile;
écraser; to run into, rencontrer par hasard; to run someone
down, renverser quelqu’un; to run a car, entretenir une
voiture ; to run a candidate, mettre en avant un candidat.
running : (standard) continuously; durant.
rush period : (standard) hours when the majority of people
are going to or coming from work; heure d'affluence ou de
pointe.
rustle up : (colloquial) to collect.
S.O.P. : (colloquial) standard operating procedure.
safety measure : (standard) precaution.
sailing : (standard) faire naviguer.
sampled : (standard) essayer.
SANE : (standard) an acronym meaning healthy, sound.
sawed-off shotgun : (standard) a gun used in hunting small
game with the barrel cut off short.
scale : (standard) to climb; escalader.
scant : (standard) short; scanty, insuffisant.
scared stiff : (colloquial) extremely frightened; une peur
bleue.
scenery : (standard) paysage, vue.
scoutmaster : (standard) the adult leader of a troop of Boy
Scouts.
scrawl : (standard) awkward or illegible writing; gribouillage.
screech : (standard) crissement.
script : (standard) a written document; the text of a film;
scénario.
section : (standard) rayon.
See you around : (colloquial) goodbye.
See you in church : (colloquial) good-bye; à bientôt.
seething : (standard) violently agitated; also, seething with
anger, bouillir de colère.
seismologists : (standard) geophysical scientists dealing with
earthquakes.
self-realization : (standard) complete fulfillment of the self.
send : (slang) to thrill, excite; entraîner.
sensational : (colloquial) exceptionally good; sensas.
serious : (standard) not joking; said in earnestness.
set him on my tail : (colloquial) make him follow me.
set up : (standard) installer; set in, commencer; set out, se
mettre en route ; set to, se mettre au travail We’d better for
we had better, nous ferions mieux. set up (standard)
organized, arranged.
settle for : (standard) to accept something in place of what is
hoped for.
settling : (standard) s'installer; to settle down, se ranger.
seventh heaven : (standard) perfectly happy.
sewer : (standard) underground drain to carry off waste
matter; égout buffeted , (standard) beaten back by repeated
blows; battu, ballotté,
sex appeal : (standard) attractive to the opposite sex;
séduisant.
shadowing : (standard) to follow secretly; filer.
shard : (standard) a piece of glass; tesson.
shares : (standard) actions, titres.
She’s : (colloquial) contraction for she is. Contractions are
common in native speakers’ speech, but should be avoided in
narrative written form.
sheepishly : (standard) embarrassed; d'un air penaud.
sheriff : (standard) the chief law enforcement officer of a
county.
shoddy : (standard) cheap and inferior; de mauvaise qualité.
shoe leather : (standard) semelle de chaussure.
shoot : (standard) to kill by firearm.
shoppers : (standard) people shopping; acheteurs, clients.
short snort : (slang) a quick drink of straight liquor; un petit
verre.
short-circuit : (standard) to deflect most of the circuit current
in an electric circuit; court-circuiter.
Shortly after : (standard) soon after; peu après.
shot : (standard) coup de pistolet, de feu.
shotgun : (standard) a hunting gun; fusil de chasse.
should be : (standard) ought to be; devrait être.
Shut up : (colloquial) be quiet; taisez-vous, silence.
sieve : (standard) passoire.
silver lining : (standard) some comforting aspect in the midst
of misfortune.
Since when : (colloquial) an expression denoting disbelief in
someone’s version of an event.
Sing out : (colloquial) to shout.
singles’ bar : (standard) a bar frequented by unmarried men
and women.
sinking : (standard) descending gradually; the sun sinks in the
west.
sis : (colloquial) contraction for sister.
sit-in : (standard) a sit-down inside a public place by a group
of demonstrators; occupation des locaux.
sitting on top of the world : (colloquial) to be successful and
prosperous.
six months off : (standard) réduction de peine de six mois.
six-pack : (standard) a container of six beers.
skedaddled : (colloquial) to run; courir.
skidded : (standard) déraper; skid row, quartier mal famé,
bas-fonds.
Skip : (standard) pass over, omit; sauter, passer.
skip it : (colloquial) drop it; never mind; laisse tomber. skip it
(slang) never mind; to skip bail, se dérober à la justice.
skunk : (colloquial) a despicable person; personne méprisable.
slapped : (standard) to put on with force.
slapped a fine : (colloquial) infliger une amende.
slick operator : (slang) a superficial and wily person.
slippery : (standard) glissant.
slop : (slang) kitchen waste used for feeding pigs.
small talk : (standard) light conversation; chitchat, bavardage.
small-time : (colloquial) minor; of little importance.
smart : (standard) clever, capable.
smidgen : (colloquial) a small amount.
smithereens : (standard) small bits or pieces; fragments.
smog : (standard) air pollution.
Smooth as silk : (colloquial) very well; tout à fait bien.
snake : (standard) to move and twist like a snake.
sneak : (standard) to move quietly and stealthily; se faufiler.
sneaker : (standard) a sports shoe made of cloth and rubber;
the fitness craze and jogging have made gym shoes popular.
snooty : (colloquial) haughty, snobbish; hautain.
snot-nosed : (slang) a young, impudent person.
So long : (colloquial) good-bye; au revoir. So long
(colloquial) goodbye.
So what : (colloquial) expression showing lack of interest; et
alors
so’s : for so as; the correct form would be so that.
soak : (standard) to wet thoroughly; tremper.
soaked to the skin : (standard) thoroughly wet; trempé.
soft-pedal : (colloquial) to make less emphatic, less
conspicuous.
soggy : (standard) moist and heavy; saturé d’eau.
sold out : (standard) all sold to the last item.
solitude : (standard) a desirable state of being alone as
opposed to loneliness, sentiment d'abandon.
something awful : (colloquial) for awfully; very much.
son of a bitch : (slang) a wicked, contemptible man; salaud.
son’s : (colloquial) for son is or son has.
song and dance : (colloquial) an explanation that is pointless
or evasive.
sophisticated : (standard) advanced, complex.
sopping : (standard) thorougly wet; drenched; trempé.
Sorry about that : (colloquial) a rather flippant way to
express regrets.
sort things out : (standard) to solve their problems.
sorts : (standard) kinds, classes.
sound the alarm : (slang) ’faire marcher le système d'alarme.
Sounds like : (colloquial) for it sounds like.
Southeastern Group : (standard) a branch of the police force.
spell out : (colloquial) to explain something step by step.
spendthrift : (standard) wasteful with money; dépensier,
prodigue, dissipateur.
Spill it : (colloquial) to divulge; to spill the beans, vendre la
mèche.
split : (slang) to leave a place; se tirer. split cf. leave
(standard), left, left; laisser. Slang synonyms for to leave
(go away), hightail, blast off, breeze off, cut out, vamoose;
partir.
splitting : (slang) to leave; partir.
spot : (standard) to pick out, to detect; repérer.
spread : (standard) s'étendre.
sprinkler system : (standard) system of pipes and attached
nozzles carrying water for protection against fire.
square : (slang) conventional, conservative; vieux jeu, pas de
son époque; squareheaded, buté.
stacked : (slang) having a full, shapely figure; des charmes
rebondis.
stand pat : (colloquial) to keep a firm, fixed position.
stashed away : (colloquial) put or hidden away; caché,
planqué.
station wagon : (standard) an automobile with a tailgate that
can be opened for loading luggage; break.
stealing : (standard) voler; also, heist, pinch, swipe, rip off.
steep : (standard) raide; prices that rise steeply, monter en
flèche.
step on it : (colloquial) to hurry. Compare this term with
standard expressions of step just above.
steps in : (standard) to intervene; s'interposer.
stick : (standard) to stay together.
stick around : (colloquial) do not leave; ne fen va pas.
sticking that big nose : (colloquial) to interfere.
stickup : (slang) armed robbery; un hold-up.
still : (standard) an apparatus used for distilling alcoholic
liquor; appareil à distiller l'alcool. still (standard) an apparatus
used for distilling alcoholic liquors; pun on line above. still
(standard) even; yet; encore. still (standard) immobile,
tranquille; still water, eau dormante ; to keep still, ne pas
bouger; in the still of the night, dans le calme de la nuit.
stint : (standard) une période assignée ; he had a two-year
stint in the army, il a fait ses deux ans dans Varmée.
stock : (standard) titres; the Stock Exchange, or the Stock
Market, la Bourse de Londres, de New York, etc.
stood up to : (standard) to confront fearlessly.
storm clouds : (standard) nuages qui annoncent Vor age;
stormy, orageux.
stormed : (standard) to attack vigorously; liver Vassaut à.
stormed (standard) to attack violently; livrer Vassaut.
stranded : (standard) abandonné, à bout de ressources.
strewing : (standard) to spread; répandre.
striking out : (standard) voler de ses propres ailes.
struck : (standard) hit; heurtée. The verb to strike is
conjugated strike, struck, struck.
stubbornness : (standard) obstinacy; entêtement.
stuck : (standard) unable to extricate himself; coincé.
stud : (slang) a virile, sexually promiscuous man; cent pour
cent mâle.
stuff : (standard) choses, matières; stuff and nonsense, ça,
c’est de la bêtise stuff (standard) raw materials; things,
objects.
stuffing : (standard) filling; packing; stuff, objects; des
choses.
Subdued : (standard) réprimé; in a subdued tone, à voix
basse.
subscribe : (standard) to consent or agree with.
subway train : (standard) train souterrain; le métro.
summoned : (standard) to send for with urgency; appeler,
faire venir.
sure : for surely (colloquial) use of the adjective in place of
the adverb. sure for surely. The use of the adjective in place
of the adverb is common in spoken American.
sure you were : (colloquial) expression of disbelief.
sure-fire : (colloquial) certain to succeed.
surf bum : (colloquial) a person who devotes so much time to
the sport of surfing as to disrupt his family life.
surfboard : (standard) a long, narrow board used in the sport
of surfing; planche de surf.
surging : (standard) to move violently in a swelling motion; se
soulever.
surrounded : (standard) entouré.
suspicious : (standard) arousing suspicion in others; suspect.
sweating blood : (slang) to work very hard; se tuer au travail.
sweetie : (colloquial) term of endearment.
sweetie pie : (colloquial) a term of endearment; chéri.
sweltering : (standard) very hot; sultry; chaleur étouffante.
swept : (standard) sweep, swept, swept; balayer, emporter.
swift : (standard) rapide.
swill : (standard) garbage, table scraps for feeding pigs;
ordures.
swindles : (standard) to cheat; rouler, escroquer.
T.V. dinners : (standard) frozen, precooked dinners packaged
in a compartmented tray for heating and serving.
tabloids : (standard) newspapers with many pictures and
short, sensational news stories.
tackle : (standard) to deal with; aborder; s’y prendre.
Take a gander : (slang) take a look; regardez.
take it easy : (colloquial) calm down; note the use of the
adjective in place of the adverb; easy as pie, facile comme
tout; easy does it, en douceur 131 you gotta be for you’ve got
to be. Note the omission of the auxiliary have and the
deformation of got to. take it easy (colloquial) calm yourself.
take it easy (colloquial) don’t get angry; calme-toi. take it
easy (colloquial) relax; be calm; calmez-vous.
take over : (standard) to control forcibly. take over (standard)
to forcibly control.
take the cake : (colloquial) to merit the highest place.
take-home pay : (standard) salaire après déductions.
take-home pay : (standard) salary after deductions; salaire
net.
takes over : (standard) to assume control of; to usurp power;
prendre le pouvoir ou contrôle.
taking off : (colloquial) to leave.
talk shows : (standard) television programs which include
discussions, interviews and comments with a T.V. host.
talked us into : (standard) persuaded us against our will.
tangible evidence : (standard) clear proof that can be seen and
touched; des preuves concrètes.
taxi : (standard) or taxicab or cab.
taxi driver : (standard) chauffeur de taxi.
T-bones : (standard) steaks from the short loin with a T-
shaped bone.
tear gas : (standard) gaz lacrymogène; clubs , (standard)
matraques.
teller : (standard) a bank clerk who pays out or receives
money; caissier, -ière de banque. teller (standard) employee at
a bank who receives or hands out money; caissier.
tenderfoot : (standard) newcomer, novice, beginner;
debutant.
tennis shoe : (standard), gym shoe, sneaker; chaussure de
tennis.
tennis life : (standard) the fitness craze with its emphasis on
exercise, diet, weight loss and cardiac conditioning.
terminals : (standard) connective devices on an electric
circuit; bornes de prise de courant.
Terrifie : (slang) wonderful; formidable.
thank mercies : (standard) a popular saying; être
reconnaissant des moindres bienfaits.
Thanks a lot : (colloquial) ironic; to thank someone for
something you do not want.
Thanks comfort : (colloquial) ironic.
That doesn’t make sense : (standard) a ridiculous and
dangerous suggestion.
that goes for : (colloquial) that applies to.
that’ll be the day : (colloquial) expression denoting
incredulity.
that’s news to me : (colloquial) I was not aware of that; je
l’ignorais.
That’s the ticket : (slang) that’s right.
that’s what : (colloquial) expression qui souligne la phrase.
the land of fruits and nuts : (colloquial) California, the state
of eccentric and crazy people.
the Man : (slang) the person having power or authority.
the whole human potential bit : (standard) the entire human
potential movement.
them : for those: the use of the pronoun in place of the
adjective is substandard.
thin : (standard) lacking body; watery.
thinning out : (standard) to become thinner in density.
This is it : (colloquial) now is the time to act.
threatened : (standard) menacer.
threatening : (standard) menaçants.
three-alarm fire : (standard) a fire big enough to entail the
services of three fire engines.
three-car family : (standard) a family owning three cars.
thrilled : (standard) excited, exhilarated; ravi.
thriller : (standard) a suspenseful novel, play or movie.
throw a monkey wrench works : (colloquial) to disrupt.
throw an eye on : (colloquial) to look at; regarder.
throw the book : (slang) to place every possible charge
against an accused person.
throwaway : (standard) a newspaper distributed in the streets
or from house to house that is free and containing numerous
advertisements.
ticker : (slang) the heart; le coeur.
tight : (colloquial) stingy, parsimonious; avare.
Tightwad : (slang) a miser; avare, radin.
till : (standard) a drawer for keeping money.
time is money : (colloquial) a business expression denoting
that time must not be wasted and can be profitable.
time-saving : (standard) that saves time because of greater
efficiency; as a noun a timesaver; qui permet de gagner du
temps.
to be in Harry’s shoes : (standard) to be in Harry’s situation.
to boot : (standard) besides; en outre. to boot (standard)
moreover; as well; de plus.
to catch hell : (colloquial) to receive punishing treatment.
to crack a joke : (slang) to joke; to tell a funny story.
to get you : (slang) to harm; to kill you; attaquer, tuer.
to have an ax to grind : (colloquial) to have an object of
one’s own to gain or promote; agir dans un but intéressé; the
ax, diminutions de personnel.
to hit the bottle : (slang) to drink; to booze, get plastered,
souse, bend the elbow, go on a binge, paint the town red
(si).
to hit the panic button : (slang) to panic, to react frantically;
s'affoler. „
to kick the habit : (slang) to get rid of a habit.
to tan their hides : (standard) to whip them severely.
to the bone : (standard) very hard; bonehead , (slang), a fool.
to top it all : (standard) to complete by adding a finishing
touch.
tongue in cheek : (standard) jokingly; not seriously.
Too bad : (colloquial) expression denoting sympathy.
took to : (standard) started to.
tools : (standard) utensils or instruments used in cutting,
digging, etc.; outils.
top : (standard) haut, sommet; antonym, bottom, bas, fond.
tossed : (standard) flung here and there; cahoté, ballotté.
touches down : (standard) to land for a plane; atterrir.
tough : (standard) hard, difficult; tough guy , (slang), un dur.
towers over : (standard) dominer (comme une tour).
townsfolk : (standard) the people of the town.
tract houses : (standard) housing development.
Trading : (standard) buying and selling.
traffic jam : (standard) vehicles so close together as to
become immobile; embouteillage.
traffic light : (standard) a set of signal lights to regulate
traffic; feu rouge.
trail : (standard) a path or track made by repeated passage;
piste.
traipsing : (colloquial) to walk; to wander.
tremors : (standard) vibratory motions.
Trials : (standard) court examinations of the facts; procès.
tricks : (standard) supercheries.
tricky : (colloquial) difficult.
trip : (standard) journey, usually relatively short.
troopers : (standard) soldats; police anti-émeutes.
trouble : (standard) difficultés, ennuis; trouble shooter, celui
qui remet une mauvaise situation en ordre; what’s the trouble
qu 'est-ce qu'il y a
truck : (standard) camion.
try-out : (colloquial) an opportunity to test one’s fitness for a
job; un essai.
turkey buzzard : (standard) a bird whose red head and neck
make it resemble a turkey.
turn on : (slang) to take or be under the influence of a
narcotic; prendre de la drogue.
turned state’s evidence : (standard) to give evidence for the
prosecution in a criminal case.
TV : (colloquial) television; screen , (standard) écran.
twelve noon : (standard) 12 heures; twelve midnight, 24
two-timing : (slang) to be unfaithful. two-timing (slang) to
deceive; to be unfaithful; tromper.
two-way stretches : (standard) girdles or corsets.
Uh-huh : (colloquial) an exclamation indicating an affirmative
response or that one is listening attentively.
under the weather : (colloquial) not feeling well.
undercover : (standard) acting in secret; agent secret.
understatement : (standard) bien au-dessous de la vérité.
unemployment : (standard) chômage.
unfasten your seat belts : (standard) détachez vos ceintures.
up and up : (slang) honest, fair; honnête, droit.
up to : (standard) doing; implication of bad actions.
up-tight : (slang) tense, nervous, anxious.
US District Court : (standard) hijacking is a federal crime
and is, therefore, tried in a federal not a state court.
used to : (standard) accustomed to; avoir Vhabitude de.
used to say : (standard) indicates a repeated habit in the past,
translated by the imperfect tense in French.
utility : (standard) the company providing the public service
of electricity, gas, water, telephone.
utopia : (standard) utopie, from the title of Sir Thomas More’s
book, 1516.
valise : (standard) a piece of hand luggage; suitcase, case.
vamoose : cf. leave (standard), left, left; laisser. Slang
synonyms for to leave (go away), hightail, blast off, breeze
off, cut out, split, partir.
Very funny : (colloquial) ironic; not funny at all.
wait up : (colloquial) stay up instead of going to bed.
washing machine : (standard) machine à laver; dishwasher,
lave-vaisselle.
washout : (slang) failure; pun on washing out the bomb.
watch your step : (standard) be careful; attention.
waterproof : (standard) imperméable.
way out : (standard) escape route; sortie. way-out (colloquial)
very unusual, unconventional.
We sure are : (colloquial) for we surely are. Native speakers
often use the adjective in place of the adverb.
we’ve had it : (colloquial) we are lost; nous sommes perdus.
weapon : (standard) an instrument used in fighting; arme.
wear : (standard) clothing; vêtements.
weather forecast : (standard) prévisions de la météo.
weatherman : (standard) a person who reports weather
conditions; météorologue.
welder : (standard) soudeur.
went off : (standard) rang; a sonné.
went on : (standard) continued.
What gives : (slang) what’s happening
what in the hell : (colloquial) exclamation of anger. What the
hell (colloquial) exclamation of surprise or fear.
What’ll it be : (colloquial) what do you want to drink
what’s eatin’ you : (slang) what is bothering you Qu 'est-ce
qui ne va pas
What’s it to you : (colloquial) what does it matter to you
What’s that all about : (colloquial) que se passe-t-il
What’s the idea : (colloquial) expression of annoyance.
What’s the matter : (standard) What is wrong Qu’y a-t-il
What’s up : (colloquial) what’s happening What’s up
(colloquial) what’s happening what have you found What’s
up (colloquial) what’s the matter What’s up (slang) what’s
happening que se passe-t-il
what’ve : (colloquial) for what have.
wheel : (standard) the steering wheel; le volant.
wheezing : (standard) respirer péniblement.
when your number is up : (slang) when it is your time to die;
number one, soi-même; number-one sport, baseball.
Where the hell : (colloquial) interjection expressing anger or
irritation.
whiplash : (standard) a sudden jolt of the neck caused by the
impact of an automobile collision; coup du lapin.
whipped up : (colloquial) excited by the speech; activé,
stimulé.
Who : (colloquial) for whom object of the verb.
who the hell : (colloquial) who expressing anger or surprise.
Who's Who : (standard) a social register of prominent people.
widow : (standard) veuve; widower, veuf.
will do : for I will do that; omission of the subject and
object.
willingly : (standard) de plein gré.
wind surfing : (standard) faire de la planche à voile; here, a
euphemism for cocaine dealing.
winos : (slang) alcoholics.
wipe out : (standard) to kill off; to demolish; éliminer, tuer.
wire : (standard) fil barbelé; gloves, gants.
wisecrack : (slang) to make a facetious remark.
wisest : (standard) cleverest, best; le plus sage ou prudent.
withdraw : (standard) in banking; to take out; retirer.
witnesses : (standard) people who saw a firsthand account of
an incident; des témoins. witnesses (standard) témoins.
witnesses (standard) témoins.
wizardry : (standard) magic, skill; génie.
woke up : (standard) se réveiller; wake, woke, woken or
waked; also, awake, awoke, awoken; awakening, réveil.
woman’s magazine : (standard) la presse hebdomadaire
féminine.
won’t : (colloquial) for will not.
woozy : (colloquial) to feel faint or dizzy; avoir le vertige.
word : (standard) the order.
worked up a sweat : (standard) started.
worried : (standard) anxious; soucieux.
worrywart : (colloquial) a person who tends to worry; un
anxieux.
wow : (colloquial) exclamation of surprise. Wow (colloquial)
exclamation of fear or surprise. Wow (slang) exclamation of
surprise.
ya : for you.
yards : (standard) one yard is 0,914 metres.
Yeah : (colloquial) for yes; here denoting support of his wife’s
statement and anger. Yeah (colloquial) for yes, oui, also in
slang, yah, yep, yup, and col. uh-huh, yes ma’am, O.K.,
right, alrighty, sure, right on, you bet. Yeah (colloquial) yes.
yeah for yes. The expression Oh, yeah denotes surprise and
disbelief.
Yeah, I guess : (colloquial) for Yes, I suppose.
year-old : (standard) hyphenated to form an adjective.
yet : (standard) in the sense pas encore is used in a negative
sentence and placed at the end; in the sense pourtant it can
introduce the sentence.
You bet : (slang) I certainly did.
you bet your ass : (col. vulgar) you’re absolutely right.
You know me : (colloquial) for do you know me indicating
surprise.
You sure : (colloquial) instead of Are you sure.
You again : (colloquial) an expression to emphasize the truth
of a preceding statement.
you’d : (colloquial) for you would. You’d (colloquial) you
had better; it would be better if; il vaudrait mieux que.
you’d better : (colloquial) for you had better, il vaut mieux
que.
you’ll again : (standard) sous-entendu “parce que nous
serons tous morts”.
You’re so right : (colloquial) you are absolutely right.
You’ve got me wrong : (colloquial) you have misunderstood
me; vous me comprenez mal.
your Tim : (colloquial) for your son Tim.
yuk : (slang) a loud laugh of amusement.
yummy : (colloquial) very tasty; savoureux, succulent.
Yup : for yes (colloquial).
zeroing in on : (standard) to aim directly at a target.
Zip : (slang) expression denoting energy, vim.
zoom in : (standard) to focus a camera by using a zoom lens;
changer de plan, faire un zoom.