-
1 eager
eager [ˈi:gər][person, buyer] empressé ; [volunteer] enthousiaste• to be eager for [+ happiness, power, fame] rechercher avidement ; [+ affection, information] être avide de ; [+ vengeance, knowledge] avoir soif de• to be eager to do sth ( = keen) désirer vivement faire qch ; ( = impatient) être impatient de faire qch• she is eager to please ( = be helpful) elle ne demande qu'à rendre service* * *['iːgə(r)]adjective [person, acceptance] enthousiaste; [face] où se lit l'enthousiasme; [anticipation] impatient; [student] plein d'enthousiasmeeager to do — ( keen) désireux/-euse de faire; ( impatient) pressé de faire
-
2 Usage note : for
for my sister= pour ma sœurfor the garden= pour le jardinfor me= pour moiFor particular usages see the entry for.When for is used as a preposition indicating purpose followed by a verb it is translated by pour + infinitive:for cleaning windows= pour nettoyer les vitresWhen for is used in the construction to be + adjective + for + pronoun + infinitive the translation in French is être + indirect pronoun + adjective + de + infinitive:it’s impossible for me to stay= il m’est impossible de resterit was hard for him to understand that…= il lui était difficile de comprendre que…it will be difficult for her to accept the changes= il lui sera difficile d’accepter les changementsFor the construction to be waiting for sb to do see the entry wait.For particular usages see the entry for.In time expressionsfor is used in English after a verb in the progressive present perfect tense to express the time period of something that started in the past and is still going on. To express this French uses a verb in the present tense + depuis:I have been waiting for three hours (and I am still waiting)= j’attends depuis trois heureswe’ve been together for two years (and we’re still together)= nous sommes ensemble depuis deux ansWhen for is used in English after a verb in the past perfect tense, French uses the imperfect + depuis:I had been waiting for two hours (and was still waiting)= j’attendais depuis deux heuresfor is used in English negative sentences with the present perfect tense to express the time that has elapsed since something has happened. To express this, French uses the same tense as English (the perfect) + depuis:I haven’t seen him for ten years (and I still haven’t seen him)= je ne l’ai pas vu depuis dix ansIn spoken French, there is another way of expressing this: ça fait or il y a dix ans que je ne l’ai pas vu.When for is used in English in negative sentences after a verb in the past perfect tense, French uses the past perfect + depuis:I hadn’t seen him for ten years= je ne l’avais pas vu depuis dix ans, or (in spoken French) ça faisait or il y avait dix ans que je ne l’avais pas vufor is used in English after the preterite to express the time period of something that happened in the past and is no longer going on. Here French uses the present perfect + pendant:last Sunday I gardened for two hours= dimanche dernier, j’ai jardiné pendant deux heuresfor is used in English after the present progressive tense or the future tense to express an anticipated time period in the future. Here French uses the present or the future tense + pour:I’m going to Rome for six weeks= je vais à Rome pour six semainesI will go to Rome for six weeks= j’irai à Rome pour six semainesNote, however, that when the verb to be is used in the future with for to emphasize the period of time, French uses the future + pendant:I will be in Rome for six weeks= je serai à Rome pendant six semaineshe will be away for three days= il sera absent pendant trois joursFor particular usages see A13, 14, 15 and 16 in the entry for.for is often used in English to form a structure with nouns, adjectives and verbs (weakness for, eager for, apply for, fend for etc.). For translations, consult the appropriate noun, adjective or verb entry (weakness, eager, apply, fend etc.). -
3 anxious
anxious [ˈæŋk∫əs]a. ( = worried) anxieux ( about sth à propos de qch) ( about doing sth à l'idée de faire qch ) ; [feeling] d'anxiétéb. [time, wait] angoissantc. ( = eager) to be anxious to do sth tenir beaucoup à faire qch• to be anxious that... tenir beaucoup à ce que... + subj* * *['æŋkʃəs]to be very ou extremely anxious — être angoissé
2) ( causing worry) [moment, time] angoissantI am anxious for him to know ou that he should know — je tiens beaucoup à ce qu'il sache
-
4 keen
keen [ki:n]a. ( = eager) to be keen to do sth or on doing sth tenir à faire qchb. ( = enthusiastic) [student] enthousiastec. ( = acute) [desire, interest, sense of humour, intellect] vifd. [competition, fight] acharné* * *[kiːn]1) ( eager) [admirer] fervent; [candidate] motivéto be keen on — tenir à [plan, project]; être chaud (colloq) pour [idea]
to be keen on doing ou to do — tenir à faire
to be keen for somebody to do ou that somebody should do — tenir à ce que quelqu'un fasse
to look keen — avoir l'air tenté or partant (colloq)
2) ( enthusiastic) [artist, sportsplayer, supporter] enthousiaste; [student] assiduto be keen on — être passionné de [activity]; avoir une passion pour [animals]
he's keen on my sister — (colloq) il en pince (colloq) pour ma sœur
mad keen — (colloq) GB fana (colloq)
3) ( intense) [appetite, desire, interest] vif/vive; [admiration, sense of loss] intense4) ( acute) [eye, intelligence] vif/vive; [sight] perçant; [hearing, sense of smell] fin5) ( sharp) [blade] acéré; [wit] vif/vive; [wind] pénétrant; [air] vif/vive6) ( competitive) [price] défiant toute concurrence; [competition] intense; [demand] fort; [debate] animé -
5 thirst
[Ɵə:st] 1. noun1) (a feeling of dryness (in the mouth) caused by a lack of water or moisture: I have a terrible thirst.) soif2) (a strong and eager desire for something: thirst for knowledge.) soif2. verb(to have a great desire for: He's thirsting for revenge.) avoir soif de- thirsty- thirstily - thirstiness -
6 glutton
1) (a person who eats too much: That child is fat because he is such a glutton.) glouton/-onne2) (a person who is always eager for more of something usually unpleasant: He's a glutton for work.) bourreau (de travail)•- gluttony -
7 better
better ['betə(r)]∎ you will find no better hotel vous ne trouverez pas mieux comme hôtel;∎ the marks are better than I expected les notes sont meilleures que je ne m'y attendais;∎ it's better than nothing c'est mieux que rien;∎ nothing could be better, it couldn't be better cela ne peut pas être mieux, c'est on ne peut mieux;∎ that's better! voilà qui est mieux!;∎ I'm better at languages than he is je suis meilleur ou plus fort en langues que lui;∎ he's a better cook than you are il cuisine mieux que toi;∎ she's a better painter than she is a sculptor elle peint mieux qu'elle ne sculpte;∎ fruit juice is better for you than coffee le jus de fruit est meilleur pour la santé que le café;∎ I had hoped for better things j'avais espéré mieux;∎ the weather is better il fait meilleur;∎ business is (getting) better les affaires vont mieux;∎ things are (getting) better and better! ça va de mieux en mieux!;∎ it couldn't or nothing could be better! c'est on ne peut mieux!;∎ he looks better without his glasses il est mieux sans lunettes;∎ you get a better view from here on voit mieux d'ici;∎ it's better if I don't see them il vaut mieux ou il est préférable que je ne les voie pas;∎ it's better that way c'est mieux comme ça;∎ it would be better if you called me tomorrow ce serait ou il vaudrait mieux que tu m'appelles demain;∎ it would have been better to have waited a little il aurait mieux valu attendre un peu;∎ you're far better leaving now il vaut beaucoup mieux que tu partes maintenant;∎ to be all the better for having done sth se trouver mieux d'avoir fait qch;∎ you'll be all the better for a holiday des vacances vous feront le plus grand bien;∎ all the better! tant mieux!;∎ better off mieux;∎ they're better off than we are (richer) ils ont plus d'argent que nous; (in a more advantageous position) ils sont dans une meilleure position que nous;∎ she'd be better off in hospital elle serait mieux à l'hôpital;∎ he'd have been better off staying where he was il aurait mieux fait de rester où il était∎ to get better commencer à aller mieux;∎ now that he's better maintenant qu'il va mieux;∎ I hope you will soon be better j'espère que vous serez bientôt rétabli;∎ my cold is much better mon rhume va beaucoup mieux;∎ I'm feeling much better je me sens beaucoup mieux;∎ you are looking better tu as meilleure mine∎ she's a better person for it ça lui a fait beaucoup de bien;∎ humorous you're a better man than I am! tu as (bien) du mérite;∎ he is no better than his brother il ne vaut pas mieux que son frère;∎ you're no better than a liar! tu n'es qu'un menteur!;∎ euphemism old-fashioned or humorous she's no better than she should be elle n'est pas d'une vertu farouche∎ the better part of sth la plus grande partie de qch;∎ I waited for the better part of an hour j'ai attendu presque une heure;∎ we haven't seen them for the better part of a month ça fait presque un mois ou près d'un mois que nous ne les avons pas vus2 adverb∎ he swims better than I do il nage mieux que moi;∎ she paints better than she sculpts elle peint mieux qu'elle ne sculpte;∎ they speak French better than they used to ils parlent mieux le français qu'avant;∎ the town would be better described as a backwater la ville est plutôt un coin perdu;∎ he held it up to the light, the better to see the colours il l'a mis dans la lumière afin de mieux voir les couleurs;∎ all the better to hear you with c'est pour mieux t'entendre;∎ to go one better (than sb) renchérir (sur qn)∎ I liked his last book better j'ai préféré son dernier livre;∎ I'd like nothing better than to talk to him je ne demande pas mieux que de lui parler;∎ so much the better tant mieux;∎ or better still ou mieux encore;∎ the less he knows the better moins il en saura, mieux ça vaudra;∎ the more I know him the better I like him plus je le connais plus je l'aime;∎ proverb better late than never mieux vaut tard que jamais(c) (with adj) mieux, plus;∎ better looking plus beau (belle);∎ better paid/prepared mieux payé/préparé;∎ she's one of Canada's better-known authors c'est un des auteurs canadiens les plus ou mieux connus∎ you had better begin at the beginning tu ferais bien de commencer par le commencement;∎ we'd better be going (must go) il faut que nous partions; (would be preferable) il vaut mieux que nous partions;∎ I'd better not wake him il vaut mieux que je ne le réveille pas;∎ you'd better not il ne vaudrait mieux pas;∎ hadn't you better phone first? est-ce qu'il ne vaudrait pas mieux que tu appelles avant?;∎ it'll be ready tomorrow - it'd better be! ce sera prêt demain - il vaudrait mieux!;∎ you'd better be on time! tu as intérêt à être à l'heure!3 noun(a) (superior of two) le (la) meilleur(e) m,f;∎ which is the better of the two? lequel des deux est le meilleur?;∎ what do you think of this wine? - I've tasted better comment trouvez-vous ce vin? - j'en ai bu de meilleurs;∎ there's been a change for the better in his health son état de santé s'est amélioré;∎ the situation has taken a turn for the better la situation a pris une meilleure tournure;∎ for better or worse pour le meilleur ou pour le pire;∎ I expected better of you je m'attendais à mieux de ta part∎ curiosity got the better of me ma curiosité l'a emporté;∎ we got the better of them in the deal nous l'avons emporté sur eux dans l'affaire(position, status, situation) améliorer; (achievement, sales figures) dépasser;∎ can you better that? pouvez-vous faire mieux que cela?;∎ Commerce the company has bettered the competition for the second year running c'est la deuxième année consécutive que l'entreprise a fait mieux que la concurrence;∎ she's eager to better herself elle a vraiment envie d'améliorer sa situation►► Commerce Better Business Bureau = organisme américain de conseil aux entreprises et aux consommateurs, notamment lorsque ceux-ci veulent faire une réclamation, French Canadian Bureau m d'éthique commerciale du Canada; -
8 desperate
desperate ['desprət](a) (hopeless, serious) désespéré;∎ we were in a desperate state nous étions dans une situation désespérée;∎ the refugees are in desperate need of help les réfugiés ont désespérément besoin d'assistance(b) (reckless) désespéré;∎ he died in a desperate attempt to escape il est mort en essayant désespérément de s'évader;∎ we heard desperate screams nous avons entendu des cris désespérés ou de désespoir;∎ I'm afraid she'll do something desperate j'ai bien peur qu'elle ne tente un acte désespéré;∎ a desperate criminal/man un criminel/homme prêt à tout(c) (intent, eager)∎ to be desperate for money avoir un besoin urgent d'argent;∎ she was desperate to leave home elle voulait à tout prix partir de chez elle;►► Desperate Dan = cowboy dans une bande dessinée britannique, connu pour sa grande taille et son énorme appétit
См. также в других словарях:
eager — ea|ger [ igər ] adjective ** very enthusiastic about doing something or enthusiastic about something that will happen: She looked at the eager faces waiting for her news. eager to do something: He s so eager to learn that he stays late every… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
eager */*/ — UK [ˈiːɡə(r)] / US [ˈɪɡər] adjective very keen to do something or enthusiastic about something that will happen She looked at the eager faces waiting for her news. eager to do something: He s so eager to learn that he stays late every evening.… … English dictionary
eager — adjective 1 very keen and excited about something that is going to happen or about something you want to do: There was a queue of eager schoolchildren outside the theatre. | eager to do sth: Clara was eager to tell her side of the story. | eager… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
eager — ea|ger [ˈi:gə US ər] adj [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: aigre, from Latin acer sharp ] 1.) very keen and excited about something that is going to happen or about something you want to do eager to do sth ▪ I was eager to get back to work… … Dictionary of contemporary English
eager — [[t]i͟ːgə(r)[/t]] ♦♦♦ 1) ADJ GRADED: usu v link ADJ, ADJ to inf, ADJ for n If you are eager to do or have something, you want to do or have it very much. Robert was eager to talk about life in the Army... When my own son was five years old, I… … English dictionary
eager — adjective 1) small eager faces Syn: keen, enthusiastic, avid, fervent, ardent, motivated, wholehearted, dedicated, committed, earnest; informal gung ho Ant: apathetic 2) we were eager for news … Thesaurus of popular words
eager — [ˈiːgə] adj 1) very keen to do something, or excited about something that is going to happen The girls were eager for new experiences.[/ex] He s so eager to learn that he stays late every evening.[/ex] eagerly adv 2) the most eagerly awaited film … Dictionary for writing and speaking English
eager — eager1 [ē′gər] adj. [ME egre < OFr aigre < L acer, sharp, acute, ardent, eager: see ACID] 1. feeling or showing keen desire; impatient or anxious to do or get; ardent 2. Archaic sharp; keen eagerly adv. eagerness n. SYN. EAGER1 implies… … English World dictionary
eager — eager, avid, keen, anxious, agog, athirst mean actuated by a strong and urgent desire or interest. Eager implies ardor and, often, enthusiasm; it frequently also connotes impatience {it is not a life for fiery and dominant natures, eager to… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
be dying for/to do something — be very eager for something. → die … English new terms dictionary
for someone's part — for someone’s part formal phrase used for emphasizing who you are referring to in a statement about something For my part, I would prefer to continue with the current plan. Napoleon’s army was weakened and the British, for their part, were eager… … Useful english dictionary