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1 rack one's brains
(to think desperately hard.) se creuser la tête -
2 to rack one's brains
se creuser les méninges/la cervelle; fam. le ciboulotEnglish-French dictionary of law, politics, economics & finance > to rack one's brains
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3 rack
rack [ræk]1. noun(for bottles, documents) casier m ; (for luggage) porte-bagage(s) m ; (for dishes) égouttoir m ; (for vegetables) bac(s) m(pl) à légumes ; (in oven) grille f* * *[ræk] 1.1) ( for plates) égouttoir m; ( in dishwasher) panier m; ( on train) compartiment m à bagages; ( for clothes) portant m; ( for cakes) grille f ( à gâteau); ( for bottles) casier m; ( for newspapers) porte-revues m inv; ( shelving) étagère f; roof rack2) ( torture) chevalet m3) Culinary2.rack of lamb — carré m d'agneau
transitive verb fig ( torment) [pain, guilt, fear] torturer••to rack one's brains — se creuser la cervelle (colloq); ruin
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4 rack
rack [ræk]1 noun(a) (shelf) étagère f; (in shop) présentoir m; (on cycle) porte-bagages m inv; (for cooling, drying) grille f, claie f; (for fodder, bicycles, test tubes, pipes) râtelier m; (for bottles) casier m;∎ (luggage) rack (in train, bus) filet m (à bagages);∎ (tool) rack porte-outils m inv;∎ (clothes) rack triangle m (à vêtements);∎ to buy a suit off the rack acheter un costume en prêt-à-porter∎ to put sb on the rack faire subir à qn le supplice du chevalet; figurative mettre qn au supplice;∎ that question put him on the rack cette question l'a mis dans une position très difficile(c) Technology crémaillère f∎ rack of lamb carré m d'agneau∎ to hit the rack (go to bed) se pieuter, se bâcher∎ to go to rack and ruin (house) tomber en ruine; (garden) être à l'abandon; (person) dépérir; (company) péricliter; (country, institution) aller à vau-l'eau∎ to be racked with pain être perclus de douleur;∎ racked by guilt tenaillé par un sentiment de culpabilité;∎ her body was racked with sobs son corps était secoué de sanglots;∎ to rack one's brains se creuser la tête►► rack and pinion crémaillère f;rack and pinion railway chemin m de fer à crémaillère;rack railway chemin m de fer à crémaillère;British rack rent loyer m exorbitant∎ to rack sb back passer un savon à qn, remonter les bretelles à qn(points) marquer -
5 rack
A n1 ( stand) ( for plates) égouttoir m ; ( in dishwasher) panier m ; ( for luggage on train etc) compartiment m à bagages ; ( for clothes) portant m ; ( for cakes) grille f (à gâteau) ; ( for bottles) casier m ; ( for newspapers) porte-revues m inv ; ( shelving) étagère f ; ⇒ roof rack ;2 ( torture) chevalet m ; to put sb on the rack mettre qn sur le chevalet ; to be on the rack fig être au supplice ;B vtr1 fig ( torment) [pain, guilt, fear] torturer ; [cough, sobs] secouer ; to be racked with guilt/with sobs être torturé par le remords/secoué de sanglots ; an industry racked by crisis une industrie très éprouvée par la crise ;2 Wine siphonner.to rack one's brains se creuser la cervelle ○ ; ⇒ ruin.■ rack up ○ US:▶ rack up [sth] décrocher [victory] ; marquer [points] ; remporter [success]. -
6 rack
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7 brain
A n2 ( also brains) ( substance) brains cervelle f ; to blow one's brains out ○ se faire sauter la cervelle ○ ;4 ( mind) to have a good brain être intelligent ; to have football on the brain ○ ne penser qu'au football ;5 ○ ( intelligent person) tête ○ f.B brains npl ( intelligence) intelligence f ; to have brains être intelligent ; he's the brains of the family c'est lui le cerveau de la famille ; to use one's brains faire marcher ses cellules grises ; she was the brains behind the operation c'était elle le cerveau de l'affaire.to dance/study one's brains out ○ US danser/travailler jusqu'à épuisement ; to beat sb's brains out défoncer le crâne de qn ○ ; to pick sb's brains avoir recours aux lumières de qn ; I need to pick your brains j'ai besoin de vos lumières ; ⇒ rack.
См. также в других словарях:
rack one's brains — THINK HARD, concentrate, cudgel one s brains; informal scratch one s head. → rack * * * rack one s brains To use one s memory or reasoning powers to the utmost • • • Main Entry: ↑rack * * * rack (or wrack) one s brains (or brain) make a great… … Useful english dictionary
rack one's brains — ► rack (or wrack) one s brains make a great mental effort. Main Entry: ↑rack … English terms dictionary
To rack one's brains — Rack Rack (r[a^]k), v. t. 1. To extend by the application of force; to stretch or strain; specifically, to stretch on the rack or wheel; to torture by an engine which strains the limbs and pulls the joints. [1913 Webster] He was racked and… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
To rack one's brains out — Rack Rack (r[a^]k), v. t. 1. To extend by the application of force; to stretch or strain; specifically, to stretch on the rack or wheel; to torture by an engine which strains the limbs and pulls the joints. [1913 Webster] He was racked and… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
rack one's brains — If you rack your brains, you try very hard to think of something or to remember something. Christmas is always a hassle for me. I have to rack my brains every year to find ideas for presents … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
rack one's brains — try hard to think or remember something I have been racking my brains all day trying to remember his name … Idioms and examples
rack one's brains — I ve racked my brain, but I still can t think of his name Syn: think hard, concentrate, try to remember; informal scratch one s head … Thesaurus of popular words
rack one's brains — think really hard, try very hard to remember something … English contemporary dictionary
rack (or wrack) one's brains — make a great mental effort. → rack … English new terms dictionary
To rack one's wits — Rack Rack (r[a^]k), v. t. 1. To extend by the application of force; to stretch or strain; specifically, to stretch on the rack or wheel; to torture by an engine which strains the limbs and pulls the joints. [1913 Webster] He was racked and… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
wrack one's brains — ► rack (or wrack) one s brains make a great mental effort. Main Entry: ↑rack … English terms dictionary