nothing is so good but it might have been better

на добре завжди знайдеться краще

aim at the stars, but keep your feet on the ground all are not thieves that dogs bark at all cats are grey in the dark all roads lead to Rome always lend a helping hand among the blind the one-eyed man is king as the days grow longer, the storms are stronger at a round table, there is no dispute of place a bad excuse is better than none a bad vessel is seldom broken be just before you're generous be just to all, but trust not all the best things come in small packages the best way to resist temptation is to give in to it better alone than in bad company better an empty house than a bad tenant better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion better ride an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me better to beg than to steal, but better to work than to beg better a tooth out than always aching between two stools one goes to the ground a bird may be known by its flight a bird never flew on one wing a bit in the morning is better than nothing all day a bleating sheep loses a bite a blind man would be glad to see a blind man needs no looking glass bread always falls buttered side down a burden which one chooses is not felt butter to butter is no relish cast no dirt in the well that gives you water the chain is no stronger than its weakest link a change is as good as a rest Christmas comes but once a year circumstances after cases cleanliness is next to godliness the cobbler's wife is the worst shod a cold hand, a warm heart comparisons are odious consistency is a jewel consideration is half of conversation a creaking door hangs long on its hinges desperate diseases must have desperate remedies the devil looks after his own diamond cut diamond dirt shows the quickest on the cleanest cotton discontent is the first step in progress do as you would be done by dog does not eat dog a dog that will fetch a bone will carry a bone a dog will not cry if you beat him with a bone do not spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar do not throw pearls before swine do your best and leave the rest with God do your duty and be afraid of none don't be a yes-man don't cut off your nose to spite your face don't drown yourself to save a drowning man don't look a gift horse in the mouth don't spur a willing horse don't strike a man when he is down don't swap the witch for the devil eagles don't catch flies eagles fly alone, but sheep flock together the English are a nation of shopkeepers even a stopped clock is right twice a day every cock sings in his own way every fish that escapes seems greater than it is every man is a pilot in a calm sea every medal has its reverse side every thing comes to a man who does not need it every tub smells of the wine it holds evil communications corrupt good manners the exception proves the rule exchange is no robbery extremes meet facts are stubborn things familiarity breeds contempt fast bind, fast find fields have eyes, and woods have ears fight fire with fire figure on the worst but hope for the best fingers were made before forks the fire which lights us at a distance will burn us when near the first shall be last and the last, first follow your own star forbearance is no acquittance the fox knows much, but more he that catches him from the day you were born till you ride in a hearse, there's nothing so bad but it might have been worse from the sweetest wine, the tartest vinegar fruit is golden in the morning, silver at noon, and lead at night gambling is the son of avarice and the father of despair the game is not worth the candles a gentleman never makes any noise the gift bringer always finds an open door the giver makes the gift precious a good horse cannot be of a bad colour a good tale is none the worse for being twice told good riddance to bad rubbish the greatest right in the world is the right to be wrong the half is more than the whole half a loaf is better than no bread half an orange tastes as sweet as a whole one hawk will not pick out hawk's eyes the heart has arguments with which the understanding is unacquainted he may well swim that is held up by the chin he that doesn't respect, isn't respected he that lies down with dogs must rise with fleas he that would live at peace and rest must hear and see and say the best he who is absent is always in the wrong he who follows is always behind the higher the climb, the broader the view history is a fable agreed upon hitch your wagon to a star the ideal we embrace is our better self if a bee didn't have a sting, he couldn't keep his honey if a sheep loops the dyke, all the rest will follow I fear Greeks even when bringing gifts if each would sweep before his own door, we should have a clean city if the cap fits, wear it if the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain if you cannot bite, never show your teeth if you cannot have the best, make the best of what you have if you cannot speak well of a person, don't speak of him at all if you leave your umbrella at home, it is sure to rain if you wish to see the best in others, show the best of yourself ill news travels fast ill weeds grow apace an inch breaks no square it always pays to be a gentleman it costs nothing to ask it is easier to descend than ascend it is easier to pull down than to build up it is good fishing in troubled waters it is idle to swallow the cow and choke on the tail it is the last straw that breaks the camel's back it is sometimes best to burn your bridges behind you it is well to leave off playing when the game is at the best it is not clever to gamble, but to stop playing it's a small world it takes all sorts to make a world it takes a thief to catch a thief jealousy is a green-eyed monster jealousy is a proof of self-love keep a dress seven years and it will come back into style keep no more cats than will catch mice kindle not a fire that you cannot extinguish kissing goes by favor jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today a joy that's shared is a joy made double justice is blind lay not the load on the lame horse learn to creep before you leap let the cock crow or not, the day will come the longest road is sometimes the shortest way home lookers-on see most of the game man does not live by bread alone many are called but few are chosen many go out for wool and come home shorn many stumble at a straw and leap over a block men cease to interest us when we find their limitations a misty morn may have a fine day the mob has many heads but no brains the moon is not seen when the sun shines the more the merrier mountain has brought forth a mouse much water runs by the mill that the miller knows not of name not a halter in his house that hanged himself the nearer the bone, the sweeter the meat never be the first by whom the new is tried nor yet the last to lay the old aside never do anything yourself you can get somebody else to do never is a long time never let your left hand know what your right hand is doing never make a bargain with the devil on a dark day never quarrel with your bread and butter never tell tales out of school a nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse no joy without alloy no man is a hero to his valet no mud can soil us but the mud we throw no names, no pack-drill no news good news no one but the wearer knows where the shoe pinches none is so blind as they who will not see none of us is perfect nothing is certain but the unforeseen nothing is easy to the unwilling nothing is so good but it might have been better nothing is stolen without hands nothing new under the sun nothing seems quite as good as new after being broken an old poacher makes the best keeper once is no rule one dog barks at nothing, the rest bark at him one good turn deserves another one half of the world does not know how the other half lives one hand washes the other one man's meat is another man's poison one picture is worth ten thousand words one volunteer is worth two pressed men one whip is good enough for a good horse; for a bad one, not a thousand opposites attract each other the orange that is squeezed too hard yields a bitter juice other people's burdens killed the ass out of the mire into the swamp painted flowers have no scent paper is patient: you can put anything on it people condemn what they do not understand pigs might fly the pitcher goes often to the well please ever; tease never plenty is no plague the porcupine, whom one must handle gloved, may be respected but is never loved the proof of the pudding is in the eating the remedy is worse than the disease reopen not the wounds once healed a rolling stone gathers no moss the rotten apple injures its neighbors scratch my back and I shall scratch yours the sea refuses no river seize what is highest and you will possess what is in between seldom seen, soon forgotten silence scandal by scandal the sharper the storm, the sooner it's over the sheep who talks peace with a wolf will soon be mutton since we cannot get what we like, let us like what we can get small faults indulged in are little thieves that let in greater solitude is at times the best society some people are too mean for heaven and too good for hell the soul of a man is a garden where, as he sows, so shall he reap sour grapes can never make sweet wine sow a thought and reap an act the sow loves bran better than roses a stick is quickly found to beat a dog with still waters run deep stoop low and it will save you many a bump through life a straw shows which way the wind blows a stream cannot rise above its source the style is the man the sun loses nothing by shining into a puddle the sun shines on all the world the sun will shine down our street too sunday plans never stand suspicion may be no fault, but showing it may be a great one sweetest nuts have the hardest shells the tail cannot shake the dog take things as they are, not as you'd have them tastes differ there are more ways of killing a dog than hanging it there is always room at the top there is life in the old dog yet there is no rose without a thorn there is small choice in rotten apples there is truth in wine there's as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it they need much whom nothing will content they that dance must pay the fiddler they walk with speed who walk alone those who hide can find three removals are as bad as a fire to the pure all things are pure to work hard, live hard, die hard, and go to hell after all would be hard indeed too far east is west translation is at best an echo a tree is known by its fruit a tree often transplanted neither grows nor thrives two can play at that game two dogs over one bone seldom agree venture a small fish to catch a great one the voice with a smile always wins wear my shoes and you'll know where they pitch we weep when we are born, not when we die what can you have of a cat but her skin what can't be cured must be endured what matters to a blind man that his father could see what you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail when a dog is drowning, everyone offers him drink when in doubt, do nowt when interest is lost, memory is lost when a man lays the foundation of his own ruin, others will build on it when a river does not make a noise, it is either empty or very full when the devil is dead, he never lacks a chief mourner when two ride on one horse one must sit behind where bees are, there is honey where it is weakest, there the thread breaks who seeks what he should not finds what he would not why keep a dog and bark yourself? a wonder lasts but nine days the worth of a thing is best known by its want the world is a ladder for some to go up and some down would you persuade, speak of interest, not of reason you buy land, you buy stones; you buy meat, you buy bones you can take a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink you can tell the day by the morning you cannot lose what you never had you cannot touch pitch and not be defiled you can't put new wine in old bottles you can't walk and look at the stars if you have a stone in your shoe your looking glass will tell you what none of your friends will zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse

There is no end to perfection

1. adj. 2. adv. partir 1., 3) nunca cuanto 2., 2) I II III I II III

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* acabar con mejor cara = end up on + a high note.

* acabar mejor de lo que + empezar = end up on + a high note.

* alcanzar + Posesivo + mejor momento = peak.

* alcanzar + Posesivo + mejor momento demasiado pronto = peak + too early.

* al mejor precio = at the best price.

* al mejor precio posible = at the best possible price.

* apreciar mejor = gain + an appreciation.

* aprovechar mejor = make + the best use of.

* aprovechar mejor el dinero = get + more for + Posesivo + money.

* arreglárselas lo mejor posible = make + the best of things.

* arreglarse lo mejor posible = look + Posesivo + best.

* atraído por la promesa de una vida mejor = drawn by the promise of a better life.

* aun mejor = better still.

* ayudar a comprender mejor = offer + insights, improve + understanding, glean + insights, give + an insight into, provide + insight into, lend + understanding to.

* ayudar a conocer mejor = advance + understanding.

* ayudar a entender mejor = lend + understanding to.

* bestseller de los mejores = runaway bestseller.

* cada vez mejor = from strength to strength.

* cambiar para mejor = change for + the better.

* como mejor + poder = as best + Pronombre + can.

* comprender mejor = gain + insight into, increase + understanding, gain + a better understanding, gain + a greater understanding, gain + a better sense of, get + a better sense of, place + Nombre + in/into + perspective.

* con la mejor voluntad del mundo = in good faith.

* con las mejores intenciones = best-intentioned.

* conocer mejor = gain + a better understanding, gain + a greater understanding.

* cuando uno se encuentra mejor de ánimo = on the upswing.

* cuanto antes mejor = sooner the better, the.

* cuantos más, mejor = the more the merrier, the more the better.

* dar lo mejor de Uno mismo = give of + Posesivo + best.

* dársele a Uno mejor Algo = be better at.

* dársele mejor a Uno = do + best.

* de la mejor forma posible = to the best of + Posesivo + ability.

* de la mejor manera posible = to the best of + Posesivo + ability.

* del mejor modo posible = to the best of + Posesivo + ability.

* de los mejores = high-end, as good as any, top-class.

* de mejor manera = best.

* demostrar ser mejor = prove + superior.

* el ataque es la mejor defensa = attack is the best form of defence.

* el mejor = best of breed, the.

* el mejor de todos = the cream of the crop, crème de la crème.

* el mejor hasta ahora = the best yet.

* el mejor modo de = the best way of.

* el mejor momento de todos = the time of all times.

* el mejor + Nombre = the best available + Nombre.

* el mejor que ha hecho hasta ahora = Posesivo + best yet.

* el perro es el mejor amigo del hombre = a dog is man's best friend.

* empezar a jugar mejor = get back into + the game.

* encontrarse en una mejor situación económica = be economically better off.

* en el mejor de los casos = at best, at most, ideally, in the best of circumstances, the best case scenario, at the most, at the best of times, at the very best.

* en el mejor momento de Uno = at + Posesivo + (very) best.

* en la mejor posición = best-positioned.

* en las mejores condiciones posibles = in the best possible conditions.

* en su mejor momento = at + Posesivo + peak.

* entender mejor = gain + a better sense of, get + a better sense of, place + Nombre + in/into + perspective.

* estar en la mejor posición para = be best positioned to.

* estar mejor = be better off, be better served by.

* funcionar mejor = work + best, do + best.

* hacer el mejor uso de = make + the best of.

* hacerlo lo mejor que uno pueda = do + Posesivo + utmost, give + Posesivo + utmost, give + Posesivo + best.

* hacerlo mejor = do + a better job.

* hacer lo mejor que Uno pued = give of + Posesivo + best.

* hacer lo mejor que Uno pueda = put + Posesivo + best into.

* hacer lo mejor que Uno puede = try + Posesivo + heart out.

* hacer mejor = give + Nombre + an edge.

* hacer resaltar las mejores cualidades de = bring out + the best in.

* interpretar la ley según le convenga mejor a Uno = bend + the rules to suit + Posesivo + own purposes.

* ir cada vez mejor = go from + strength to strength, go + great guns.

* la mejor forma de hacer Algo = lessons learned [lessons learnt].

* la mejor manera = how best.

* la mejor manera de = the best way of.

* la mejor oferta = the best deal.

* la mejor opción = the best bet.

* la mejor salida = the best way forward.

* la mejor solución = the best way forward.

* lo mejor = the top of the tree.

* lo mejor de = the beauty of, showpiece.

* lo mejor de ambas partes = the best of both worlds.

* lo mejor de lo mejor = the best of the best.

* lo mejor de todo = best of all.

* lo mejor entre lo mejor = the best of the best.

* lo mejor es que... = the good news is (that)....

* lo mejor está aún por llegar = the best is yet to come.

* lo mejor posible = to the best of + Posesivo + ability, at + Posesivo + (very) best, optimally.

* lo mejor que pueda = to the best of + Posesivo + ability.

* lo mejor que se puede hacer = the best bet.

* lo mejor + ser = the beautiful part + be.

* lo que es aun mejor = better still.

* lo que es mejor aun = better still.

* mejor amigo = best friend.

* mejor aun = better still.

* mejor compra = best buy.

* mejor conservado = best-preserved.

* mejor dicho = nay.

* mejor diseñado = best-designed, best-laid, best-laid.

* mejor, el = best, the.

* mejor imposible = as good as it gets.

* mejor intento = best stab, best shot.

* mejor oferta = best buy.

* mejor oferta, la = best value, the.

* mejor pensado = best-laid.

* mejor planeado = best-laid.

* mejor que = in preference to.

* mejor relación calidad-precio, la = best value for money, the.

* mejor sería que + Subjuntivo = might + as well + Verbo.

* mientras más, mejor = the more the merrier, the more the better.

* mucho mejor = far better.

* mucho mejor que = far superior to.

* nada es mejor que = nothing beats....

* nada sabe mejor que sentirse delgado = nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

* no estar en el mejor momento de Uno = be past + Posesivo + best.

* no hay nada mejor que = nothing beats....

* ocupar la mejor posición para = be in the best position to, be best positioned to, be the best placed to.

* Oficina para el Mejor Comercio = Better Business Bureau.

* o mejor dicho = or rather.

* para un futuro mejor = for a better future.

* pasar a mejor vida = bite + the dust, give up + the ghost.

* pasar a vida mejor = lay + Nombre + low.

* pastos mejores = greener pastures, pastures new.

* persona con la mejor nota = top scorer, top scorer.

* poner de manifiesto las mejores cualidades de = bring out + the best in.

* Posesivo + mejor amigo = Posesivo + best friend.

* potenciar las mejores cualidades de = bring out + the best in.

* ¡que gane el mejor! = may the best man win!, may the best man win!.

* que ocupa la mejor posición = best-positioned.

* sacar a relucir las mejores cualidades de = bring out + the best in.

* sacar el mejor partido de = get + the best out of.

* sacar el mejor partido de Algo = make + the best use of, make + the best advantage of, make + the best possible use of.

* sacar el mejor partido posible = get + the best of both worlds, get + the best of all worlds.

* sacar mejor partido = get + more for + Posesivo + money.

* secreto mejor guardado = best kept secret.

* sería mejor que + Imperfecto de Subjuntivo = had better + Infinitivo.

* sería mejor que + Subjuntivo = better + Infinitivo.

* sería mejor que yo = I'd better [I had better].

* ser la mejor alternativa = be the best bet.

* ser la mejor manera de = be the conduit for.

* ser mejor en = be better at.

* ser mejor que = be superior to, compare + favourably.

* ser mejor que + Subjuntivo = better + Infinitivo.

* tanto mejor = so much the better.

* tener el mejor aspecto posible = look + Posesivo + best.

* tener lo mejor de ambos mundos = have + the best of both worlds.

* tener lo mejor de los dos mundos = have + the best of both worlds.

* terminar con mejor cara = end up on + a high note.

* terminar mejor de lo que + empezar = end up on + a high note.

* tierras mejores = greener pastures, pastures new.

* todavía no ha pasado lo mejor = the best is yet to come.

* trabajar mejor = work + best.

* una mejor ocasión = a better time.

* un mejor momento = a better time.

* vida mejor = better life.

* y aun mejor = better yet.

 

mejor adjetivo
1



‹ calidad› better, higher, superior;

cuanto más grande mejor the bigger the better


está mejor así it's better like this
2



( entre varios) best;

productos de la mejor calidad products of the highest quality;
lo mejor es que se lo digas the best thing (to do) is to tell her;
le deseo lo mejor I wish you the very best o all the best


■ adverbio
1 ( comparativo) better;

pintas cada vez mejor your painting is getting better and better;
me lleva dos años, mejor dicho, dos y medio she's two years older than me, or rather, two and a half
2 ( superlativo) best;

la versión mejor ambientada de la obra the best-staged production of the play;
lo hice lo mejor que pude I did it as best I could o (frml) to the best of my ability;
a lo mejor maybe, perhaps;
a lo mejor vamos a Italia we may o might go to Italy
3 (esp AmL) ( en sugerencias):

mejor me callo I think I'd better shut up
■ sustantivo masculino y femenino:


( de varios) the best;

mejor
I adjetivo
1 (comparativo de bueno) better: mi bolígrafo es mejor que el tuyo, my pen is better than yours
es mejor que confieses, you'd better confess
no hay nada mejor, there's nothing better
2 (superlativo de bueno) best
la mejor de la clase, the best in the class
lo mejor, the best thing
II adverbio
1 (comparativo de bien) better: canta mucho mejor, he sings much better
estamos mejor atendidos, we are better looked after
lo hace mejor que tú, she does it better than you do
2 (superlativo de bien) best: soy la que mejor lo hace, I'm the one who does it best
3 (antes, preferiblemente) mejor lo escribes, you'd better write it down
déjalo mejor para la tarde, it'd be better if you left it for the evening
♦ Locuciones: a lo mejor, maybe, perhaps, tanto mejor, so much the better

' mejor' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
bastante
- calaña
- caso
- concebir
- corta
- corto
- cuanta
- cuanto
- desear
- despersonalizada
- despersonalizado
- dicha
- dicho
- diplomacia
- don
- duda
- él
- embalarse
- flor
- gafar
- infinitamente
- ingeniar
- irse
- modestamente
- pegar
- pique
- postor
- postora
- premio
- que
- resbaladiza
- resbaladizo
- revolver
- según
- sentar
- sentirse
- superarse
- superior
- tanta
- tanto
- vaho
- vida
- voluntad
- alegrar
- caber
- cada
- camino
- casi
- como
- cuando
English:
acclaim
- acknowledge
- and
- any
- at
- attest
- awaken
- best
- better
- brand
- bust up
- but
- by
- change
- choose
- clean up
- dog
- ever
- eyesight
- far
- female
- few
- flagship
- gazump
- gazumping
- grade
- highlight
- institution
- job
- late
- laugh
- lion
- look up
- lot
- love
- male-dominated
- maybe
- mile
- more
- much
- next
- of
- off
- one-upmanship
- optimal
- out
- outdistance
- outmaneuver
- outmanoeuvre
- pain
[recuperado] to be better;

   a. (permission)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Lorsque pouvoir sert à donner la permission de faire quelque chose, il peut se traduire par can ou may ; can est le plus courant et couvre la majorité des cas.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• tu peux le garder si tu veux you can keep it if you like

• maintenant, tu peux aller jouer now you can go and play

• vous pouvez desservir you can clear the table

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► On emploie can lorsque la permission dépend d'une tierce personne ou d'une autorité ; can étant un verbe défectif, to be able to le remplace aux temps où il ne peut être conjugué.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• sa mère a dit qu'il ne pouvait pas rester his mother said he couldn't stay

• elle ne pourra lui rendre visite qu'une fois par semaine she'll only be able to visit him once a week

► pouvoir ne pas

• il peut ne pas venir he doesn't have to come

• tu peux très bien ne pas venir you don't have to come

   b. (demande)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Lorsque l'on demande à quelqu'un la permission de faire quelque chose, qu'on lui demande un service ou qu'on lui donne un ordre poli, on utilise can ou la forme plus polie could.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• est-ce que je peux fermer la fenêtre ? can I shut the window?

• puis-je emprunter votre stylo ? could I borrow your pen?

• pourrais-je vous parler ? could I have a word with you?

• puis-je vous être utile ? can I be of assistance?

• tu peux m'ouvrir la porte, s'il te plaît ? can you or could you open the door for me, please?

• pourriez-vous nous apporter du thé ? could you bring us some tea?

   c. (possibilité)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Lorsque pouvoir exprime une possibilité ou une capacité, il se traduit généralement par can ou par to be able to ; can étant un verbe défectif, to be able to le remplace aux temps où il ne peut être conjugué.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• peut-il venir ? can he come?

• ne peut-il pas venir ? can't he come?

• il ne peut pas venir he can't come

• il ne pourra plus jamais marcher he will never be able to walk again

• je ne peux que vous féliciter I can only congratulate you

• je voudrais pouvoir vous aider I wish I could help you

• il n'a pas pu venir he couldn't come

• la salle peut contenir 100 personnes the auditorium can seat 100 people

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Lorsque pouvoir implique la notion de réussite, on emploie to manage.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• il a pu réparer la machine à laver he managed to fix the washing machine

• tu as pu lui téléphoner ? did you manage to phone him?

• j'ai essayé de le joindre, mais je n'ai pas pu I tried to get in touch with him but I didn't manage to

   d. (probabilité, hypothèse)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Lorsque pouvoir exprime une probabilité, une éventualité ou une hypothèse, il se traduit par could ; might implique une plus grande incertitude.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• il pourrait être italien he could or might be Italian

• ça peut laisser une cicatrice it might leave a scar

• ça aurait pu être un voleur ! it could or might have been a burglar!

► bien + pouvoir

• où ai-je bien pu mettre mon stylo ? where on earth can I have put my pen?

• qu'est-ce qu'il peut bien faire ? what can he be doing?

• il a très bien pu entrer sans qu'on le voie he could very well have come in without anyone seeing him

• qu'est-ce que cela peut bien lui faire ? (inf) what's it to him? (inf)

   e. (suggestion) could

• je pourrais venir te chercher I could come and pick you up

• tu aurais pu me dire ça plus tôt ! you could have told me sooner!

   f. (souhaits) puisse-t-il guérir rapidement ! let's hope he makes a speedy recovery!

• puissiez-vous dire vrai ! let's hope you're right!

2. <

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► La probabilité, l'éventualité, l'hypothèse ou le risque sont rendus par may ; might implique une plus grande incertitude.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• il peut pleuvoir it may rain

• il pourrait pleuvoir it might rain

• il pourrait s'agir d'un assassinat it might be murder

3. <

• est-ce qu'on peut quelque chose pour lui ? is there anything we can do for him?

• il fait ce qu'il peut he does what he can

• il a fait tout ce qu'il a pu he did all he could

• que puis-je pour vous ? what can I do for you?

• je ne peux rien faire pour vous I can't do anything for you

• on n'y peut rien nothing can be done about it

• désolé, mais je n'y peux rien I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do about it

► on ne peut plus

• il a été on ne peut plus aimable he couldn't have been kinder

• il a été on ne peut plus clair he couldn't have made it clearer► n'en pouvoir plus

• je n'en peux plus (fatigue) I'm worn out ; (énervement) I've had enough ; (désespoir) I can't take it any longer

• il n'en peut plus d'attendre he's fed up with waiting (inf)

4. <

► se pouvoir

• ça se peut (inf) it's possible

• tu crois qu'il va pleuvoir ? -- ça se pourrait bien do you think it's going to rain? -- it might

• ça ne se peut pas (inf) that's not possible► il se peut que + subjonctif

• il se peut qu'elle vienne she may come► il se pourrait que + subjonctif

• il se pourrait qu'elle vienne she might come

• il se pourrait bien qu'il pleuve it might or could well rain

5. <

power ; ( = capacité) ability ; ( = influence) influence

• avoir le pouvoir de faire qch to have the power to do sth

• il a un extraordinaire pouvoir de conviction he has remarkable powers of persuasion

• il fera tout ce qui est en son pouvoir he will do everything in his power

• pouvoir absorbant absorbency

• avoir beaucoup de pouvoir to have a lot of power

• avoir du pouvoir sur qn to have power over sb

• n'avoir aucun pouvoir sur qn to have no influence over sb

• tenir qn en son pouvoir to hold sb in one's power

• le quatrième pouvoir ( = presse) the press

• en vertu des pouvoirs qui me sont conférés by virtue of the power which has been vested in me

• séparation des pouvoirs separation of powers

• avoir pouvoir de faire qch (autorisation) to have authority to do sth ; (droit) to have the right to do sth

• pouvoir central central government

• le parti au pouvoir the party in power

• avoir le pouvoir to have power

• exercer le pouvoir to rule

• prendre le pouvoir (légalement) to come to power ; (illégalement) to seize power

• des milieux proches du pouvoir sources close to the government

6. <

► pouvoir d'achat purchasing power

► pouvoir de décision decision-making powers

► le pouvoir exécutif executive power

► le pouvoir judiciaire judicial power

* * *

Note: can et may qui peuvent traduire le verbe pouvoir ne s'emploient ni à l'infinitif, ni au futur

I
1. puvwaʀ

verbe auxiliaire

1) ( être capable de) to be able to

peux-tu soulever cette boîte? — can you lift this box?

dès que je pourrai — as soon as I can

je suis content que vous ayez pu venir — I'm glad you could come

il pourrait mieux faire — he could do better

je n'en peux plus — (épuisement, exaspération) I've had it (colloq); ( satiété) I'm full (colloq)

2) ( être autorisé à) to be allowed to

est-ce que je peux me servir de ta voiture? — can I use your car?

puis-je m'asseoir? — may I sit down?

est-ce qu'on peut fumer ici? — is smoking allowed here?

3) ( avoir le choix de)

on peut écrire clef ou clé — the word can be written clef or clé

on peut ne pas faire l'accord — the agreement is optional

il ne peut pas ne pas accepter — he has no option but to accept

4) ( avoir l'obligeance de)

pourriez-vous me tenir la porte s'il vous plaît? — can ou could you hold the door (open) for me please?

5) ( être susceptible de)

tout peut arriver — anything could happen

il ne peut pas ne pas gagner — he's bound to win

puisse cette nouvelle année exaucer vos vœux les plus chers — wishing you everything you could want for the new year

qu'est-ce que cela peut (bien) te faire? — (colloq) what business is it of yours?

on peut toujours espérer — there's no harm in wishing ou hoping

s'il croit que je vais payer il peut toujours attendre — if he thinks I'm going to pay he's got another think coming

ce qu'il peut être grand! — how tall he is!

peux-tu être bête! — you can be so silly!

2.

verbe transitif

que puis-je pour vous? — what can I do for you?

je ne peux rien pour vous/contre eux — there's nothing I can do for you/about them

je fais ce que je peux — I'm doing my best

3.

verbe impersonnel

il peut faire très froid en janvier — it can get very cold in January

il pouvait être 10 heures — it was probably about 10 o'clock

il peut neiger comme il peut faire beau — it might snow or it might be fine

c'est inimaginable ce qu'il a pu pleuvoir! — you can't imagine ou wouldn't believe how much it rained!

4.

il se peut verbe pronominal impersonnel

il se peut que les prix augmentent en juin — prices may ou might rise in June

se peut-il qu'il m'ait oublié? — can he really have forgotten me?

‘est-ce que tu viendras ce soir?’ - ‘cela se peut’ — ‘are you coming this evening?’ - ‘I may do’

ça ne se peut pas — (colloq) it's impossible

5.

on ne peut plus locution adverbiale

il est on ne peut plus timide — he is as shy as can be

il est on ne peut plus désagréable — he's thoroughly unpleasant

6.

on ne peut mieux locution adverbiale

c'est on ne peut mieux — it couldn't be better

ils s'entendent on ne peut mieux — they get on extremely well

••

autant que faire se peut — as far as possible

II puvwaʀ

nom masculin

1) ( puissance) power

pouvoirs surnaturels — supernatural powers

2) ( faculté) ability

avoir le pouvoir de faire — to be able to do

3) ( ascendant) power ( sur over)

4) ( autorité) power, authority

je n'ai pas le pouvoir de décider — it's not up to me to decide

5) Politique power

pouvoir absolu — absolute power

après 15 ans au pouvoir — after 15 years in power

donner tous pouvoir à quelqu'un — to give somebody full powers

le pouvoir en place — the government in power

6) Administration, Droit power

pouvoir par-devant notaire — power of attorney

•

Phrasal Verbs:

- pouvoir d'achat

- pouvoir exécutif

- le pouvoir judiciaire

- pouvoir législatif

- les pouvoir s constitués

- pouvoir s publics

* * *

puvwaʀ

1. nm

1) (= influence, autorité) power

Le Premier ministre a beaucoup de pouvoir. — The prime minister has a lot of power.

avoir pouvoir de faire (= autorisation) — to have the authority to do, to have authority to do, (= droit) to have the right to do

2) (= dirigeants)

le pouvoir — those in power

les pouvoirs publics — the authorities

2. vb aux

1) (= avoir la possibilité de) to be able to

Je suis déçu de ne pas pouvoir le faire. — I am disappointed not to be able to do it.

Je ne pourrai pas venir samedi. — I won't be able to come on Saturday., I can't come on Saturday.

Je n'ai pas pu le réparer. — I couldn't repair it., I wasn't able to repair it.

Je peux lui téléphoner si tu veux. — I can phone her if you like.

2) (= avoir la permission de)

Vous pouvez aller au cinéma. — You can go to the pictures.

Puis-je venir vous voir samedi? — May I come and see you on Saturday?

3) (hypothèse)

Il a pu avoir un accident. — He may have had an accident., He might have had an accident., He could have had an accident.

Il aurait pu le dire! — He might have said so!, He could have said so!

4) (autres locutions)

tu ne peux pas savoir! — you have no idea!

tu peux le dire! — you can say that again!

3. vb impers

il peut arriver que — it may be that

il pourrait pleuvoir — it might rain

4. vt

J'ai fait tout ce que j'ai pu. — I did all I could.

Fais ce que tu peux. — Do what you can.

Je n'y peux rien. — I can't do anything about it.

on ne peut; Je me porte on ne peut mieux. — I'm absolutely fine., I couldn't be better.

Elle est on ne peut plus gentille. — She couldn't be nicer., She's as nice as can be.

je n'en peux plus (fatigue) — I'm exhausted, (patience) I can't take any more

* * *

I.

pouvoir verb table: pouvoir

❢ Can et may qui peuvent traduire le verbe pouvoir ne s'emploient ni à l'infinitif, ni au futur.

A v aux

1 ( être capable de) to be able to; peux-tu soulever cette boîte? can you lift this box?; nous espérons pouvoir partir cette année we hope to be able to go away this year; dès que je pourrai as soon as I can; il ne pourra pas venir he won't be able to come; je suis content que vous ayez pu venir I'm glad you could come; il ne pouvait pas cacher son irritation he couldn't conceal his annoyance; il pourrait mieux faire he could do better; elle aurait pu le faire she could have done it; tu peux/pourrais bien me rendre ce service you can/could at least do this for me; tu ne pouvais pas me le dire tout de suite! why couldn't you have told me ou didn't you tell me that right away?; on ne pourrait mieux dire that's very well put; je n'en peux plus (épuisement, exaspération) I've had it○; ( satiété) I'm full○; ⇒ vieillesse;

2 ( être autorisé à) to be allowed to; les élèves ne peuvent pas quitter l'établissement sans autorisation pupils can't ou may not ou are not allowed to leave the school without permission; est-ce que je peux me servir de ta voiture? can I use your car?; puis-je m'asseoir? may I sit down?; est-ce qu'on peut fumer ici? is smoking allowed here?; nous ne pouvons tout de même pas les laisser faire we can't just stand by and do nothing; tu peux toujours essayer you can ou could always try; on peut dire que it can be said that; après ce qui est arrivé on peut se poser des questions after what happened questions are bound to be asked;

3 ( avoir le choix de) on peut écrire clef ou clé the word can be written clef or clé; on peut ne pas faire l'accord the agreement is optional; il ne peut pas ne pas accepter he has no option but to accept; il peut être malade après tout ce qu'il a mangé after the amount he ate it's no wonder that he is ill;

4 ( avoir l'obligeance de) pourriez-vous me tenir la porte s'il vous plaît? can ou could you hold the door (open) for me please?; si tu pouvais garder la petite, je sortirais un peu if you could keep an eye on the baby, I could go out for a while; peux-tu me dire quelle heure il est s'il te plaît? could you tell me the time please?;

5 ( être susceptible de) tout peut arriver anything could happen; cela pourrait arriver à n'importe qui it could happen to anybody; il ne peut pas ne pas gagner he's bound to win; où peut-il bien être? where can he be?; où pouvait-il bien être? where could he be?; que peut-il bien faire? what can he be doing?; tout le monde peut se tromper anyone can make a mistake; puisse cette nouvelle année exaucer vos vœux les plus chers wishing you everything you could want for the new year; puisse-t-il revenir sur sa décision we can only hope that he goes back on his decision; puissiez-vous dire vrai let us hope you are right; rien ne pourra l'arrêter nothing can stop him/her; qu'est-ce que cela peut (bien) te faire? what business is it of yours?; il peut toujours espérer there's no harm in wishing ou hoping; s'il croit que je vais payer ses dettes il peut toujours attendre if he thinks I'm going to pay his debts he's got another think coming; elle pouvait mentir, il l'aimait toujours no matter how much she lied, he still loved her; qu'est-ce qu'il peut y avoir comme monde! what a crowd there is!; qu'est-ce qu'il peut faire froid ici! it's so cold here!; ce qu'il peut être grand! how tall he is!; peux-tu être bête! how silly you can be!

B vtr que puis-je pour vous? what can I do for you?; je ne peux rien pour vous/contre eux there's nothing I can do for you/about them; je n'y peux rien I can't do anything about it, there's nothing I can do about it; je fais ce que je peux I'm doing my best; ‘je sais que c'est difficile mais qu'y puis-je?’-‘vous pouvez beaucoup’ ‘I know it's hard, but what can I do?’-‘plenty’.

C v impers il peut faire très froid en janvier it can get very cold in January; il pourrait arriver que je parte I could ou might leave; il pouvait être 10 heures it was probably about 10 o'clock; il peut neiger comme il peut faire beau it might snow or it might be fine; c'est inimaginable ce qu'il a pu pleuvoir! you can't imagine ou wouldn't believe how much it rained!; ce qu'il peut pleuvoir en ce moment! it's raining really hard at the moment.

D il se peut vpr impers il se peut que les prix augmentent en juin prices may ou might rise in June; il se peut or pourrait que j'accepte leur offre I may ou might accept their offer; se peut-il qu'il m'ait oublié? can he really have forgotten me?; se peut-il que vous ayez fait cela? how could you do such a thing?; ‘est-ce que tu viendras ce soir?’-‘cela se peut’ ‘are you coming this evening?’-‘I may do’; cela se pourrait bien very possibly so; il or cela se pourrait (bien) qu'il soit fâché he might (well) be angry; ça ne se peut pas○ it's impossible.

E on ne peut plus loc adv il est on ne peut plus timide he is as shy as can be; c'est on ne peut mieux it couldn't be better; il travaille on ne peut plus sérieusement you couldn't ask for a more conscientious worker; il est on ne peut plus désagréable he's thoroughly unpleasant.

Idiomes

qui peut le plus peut le moins if you can do something complicated, you can do something simple; autant que faire se peut as far as possible.

II.

pouvoir nm

1 ( puissance) power; pouvoirs surnaturels supernatural powers; pouvoir blanchissant d'un détergent whitening power of a detergent; pouvoir d'évocation d'un mot evocative power of a word;

2 ( faculté) ability; avoir un remarquable pouvoir d'adaptation to be remarkably adaptable; avoir le pouvoir de faire to be able to do;

3 ( ascendant) power (sur over); le pouvoir de qn sur qn sb's power over sb; il la tient en son pouvoir he's got her in his power;

4 ( autorité) power, authority; n'avoir aucun pouvoir sur qn to have no power over sb; je n'ai pas le pouvoir de décider it's not up to me to decide; il n'est pas en mon pouvoir de prendre une telle décision I'm not the one who decides;

5 Pol power; pouvoir absolu/royal absolute/royal power; après 15 ans de pouvoir after 15 years in power; avoir le pouvoir to be in power; exercer le pouvoir to exercise power; prendre le pouvoir to take power; arriver au pouvoir to come to power; se maintenir au pouvoir to stay in power; séparation des pouvoirs separation of powers; en vertu des pouvoirs qui nous sont conférés by reason of ou in exercise of the powers invested in us; avoir tous pouvoirs to have ou exercise all powers; donner tous pouvoir à qn to give sb full powers, to confer full powers on sb; les pleins pouvoirs full powers; le pouvoir en place the government in power;

6 Admin, Jur power; déléguer ses pouvoirs à qn to delegate powers to sb; pouvoir par-devant notaire power of attorney; donner pouvoir à qn to give sb a proxy.

Composés

pouvoir d'achat purchasing power; pouvoir calorifique calorific value; pouvoir exécutif executive power; le pouvoir judiciaire ( corps) the judiciary; pouvoir législatif legislative power; pouvoir séparateur Phys resolving power; pouvoir spirituel spiritual power; pouvoir temporel temporal power; les pouvoirs constitués the powers that be; pouvoirs exceptionnels emergency powers; pouvoirs publics authorities.

I

[puvwar] nom masculin

1. [aptitude, possibilité] power

avoir un grand pouvoir de concentration/de persuasion to have great powers of concentration/persuasion

je n'ai pas le pouvoir de lire l'avenir! I cannot predict the future!

il n'est plus en notre pouvoir de décider de la question we're no longer in a position to decide on this matter

je ferai tout ce qui est en mon pouvoir pour t'aider I'll do everything ou all in my power to help you

pouvoir d'achat ÉCONOMIE purchasing power

2. ADMINISTRATION & DROIT [d'un président, d'un tuteur] power

avoir pouvoir de décision to have the authority to decide

pouvoir disciplinaire disciplinary powers

3. POLITIQUE

le pouvoir

a. [exercice] power

b. [gouvernants] government

elle est trop proche du pouvoir pour comprendre she's too close to the seat of power to understand

arriver au pouvoir to come to power

être au pouvoir

a. [parti élu] to be in power ou office

b. [junte] to be in power

les gens au pouvoir ne connaissent pas nos problèmes those in power ou the powers that be don't understand our difficulties

prendre le pouvoir

a. [élus] to take office

b. [dictateur] to seize power

exercer le pouvoir to exercise power, to govern, to rule

le pouvoir central central government

le pouvoir exécutif executive power, the executive

le pouvoir judiciaire judicial power, the judiciary

le pouvoir législatif legislative power, the legislature

le pouvoir local local government, the local authorities

4. [influence] power, influence

avoir du pouvoir sur quelqu'un to have power ou influence over somebody

avoir quelqu'un en son pouvoir to have somebody in one's power

5. PHYSIQUE & TECHNOLOGIE power, quality

pouvoir calorifique (inférieur)/supérieur (net)/gross calorific value

pouvoir couvrant (d'une peinture) opacity (of a paint)

pouvoir isolant insulating capacity

————————

pouvoirs nom masculin pluriel

1. [fonctions] powers, authority

outrepasser ses pouvoirs to overstep ou to exceed one's authority

avoir tous pouvoirs pour faire quelque chose

a. [administrateur] to have full powers to do something

b. [architecte, animateur] to have carte blanche to do something

pouvoirs exceptionnels POLITIQUE special powers (available to the President of the French Republic in an emergency)

2. [gouvernants]

les pouvoirs constitués the legally constituted government

les pouvoirs publics the authorities

3. [surnaturels] powers

II

[puvwar] verbe auxiliaire

1. [avoir la possibilité, la capacité de]

je peux revenir en France I'm able to ou I can return to France

je peux vous aider? [généralement, dans un magasin] can I help you?

on peut toujours s'arranger some sort of an arrangement can always be worked out

comment as-tu pu lui mentir! how could you lie to him!

quand il pourra de nouveau marcher when he's able to walk again

je ne peux pas dormir I'm unable to ou I can't sleep

tout le monde ne peut pas le faire/en dire autant! not everybody can do it/say that!

le projet ne pourra pas se faire sans sa collaboration the project can't be carried out without her collaboration

tu ne peux pas ne pas l'aider you MUST help her, you can't refuse to help her

il ne peut pas la voir (en peinture) (familier) he can't stand (the sight of) her

2. [parvenir à] to manage ou to be able to

avez-vous pu entrer en contact avec lui? did you succeed in contacting ou manage to contact him?

c'est construit de telle manière que l'on ne puisse pas s'échapper it's built in such a way that it's impossible to escape ou as to make escape impossible

3. [avoir la permission de]

vous pouvez disposer you may ou can go now

si je peux ou (soutenu) si je puis m'exprimer ainsi if I may use the phrase

si on ne peut plus plaisanter, maintenant! it's a pretty sad thing if you can't have a laugh anymore!

[avoir des raisons de]

on ne peut que s'en féliciter one can't but feel happy about it

je suis désolé — ça, tu peux (l'être)! (familier) I'm so sorry — so you should be ou and with good reason ou and I should think so too!

4. [exprime une éventualité, un doute, un risque]

la maladie peut revenir the disease can ou may recur

attention, tu pourrais glisser careful, you might ou could slip

ce ne peut être déjà les invités! (surely) it can't be the guests already!

j'aurais pu l'attendre longtemps, elle n'arrive que demain! I could have waited a long time, she's not coming until tomorrow!

après tout, il pourrait bien ne pas avoir menti he may well have been telling the truth after all

c'est plus facile qu'on ne pourrait le croire it's easier than you might think

je peux toujours m'être trompé it's possible I might have got it wrong

ça aurait pu être pire it could have been worse

(tournure impersonnelle)

il pourrait s'agir d'un suicide it could ou may ou might be a suicide

il peut arriver que... it may (so) ou can happen that...

5. [exprime une approximation]

elle pouvait avoir entre 50 et 60 ans she could have been between 50 and 60 (years of age)

6. [exprime une suggestion, une hypothèse]

tu peux toujours essayer de lui téléphoner you could always try phoning him

tu pourrais au moins t'excuser! you could at least apologize!, the least you could do is (to) apologize!

il aurait pu me prévenir! he could've ou might've warned me!

on peut s'attendre à tout avec elle anything's possible with her

7. [en intensif]

où ai-je bien pu laisser mes lunettes? what on earth can I have done with my glasses?

qu'a-t-elle (bien) pu leur dire pour les mettre dans cet état? what can she possibly have said for them to be in such a state!

8. (littéraire) [exprime le souhait]

puisse-t-il vous entendre! let us hope he can hear you!

puissé-je ne jamais revivre des moments pareils! may I never have to live through that again!

————————

[puvwar] verbe transitif

[être capable de faire]

qu'y puis-je? what can I do about it?

vous seul y pouvez quelque chose only you can do anything about it

on n'y peut rien it can't be helped, nothing can be done about it

que puis-je pour vous? what can I do for you?

j'ai fait tout ce que j'ai pu I did my level best ou all I could

je n'en peux plus

a. [physiquement] I'm exhausted

b. [moralement] I can't take anymore ou stand it any longer

c. [je suis rassasié] I'm full (up)

ma voiture n'en peut plus (familier) my car's had it

je n'en peux plus de l'entendre se plaindre sans cesse I just can't take his continual moaning any more

regarde-le danser avec elle, il n'en peut plus! (familier & humoristique) just look at him dancing with her, he's in seventh heaven!

————————

se pouvoir verbe impersonnel

ça se peut it may ou could be

ça se peut, mais... that's as may be, but...

il va pleuvoir — ça se pourrait bien! it's going to rain — that's quite possible!

sois calme, et s'il se peut, diplomate keep calm and, if (at all) possible, be tactful

il ou ça se peut que: il se peut qu'il soit malade he might be ill, maybe he's ill

il se pourrait bien qu'il n'y ait plus de places it might ou could well be fully booked