-
1 debole
1. adj weak( voce) weak, faint( luce) dim2. m weaknessavere un debole per qualcuno have a soft spot for s.o.* * *debole agg. weak, feeble, faint: udito debole, weak hearing; vista debole, weak sight; memoria debole, weak memory; (med.) polso debole, feeble pulse; luce, rumore debole, faint light, noise; udimmo deboli suoni in lontananza, we heard faint sounds in the distance; essere debole di gambe, to be weak in the legs; essere troppo debole per camminare, to be too weak to walk; la sua difesa fu piuttosto debole, his defence was rather weak; Giovanni è debole in matematica, John is weak in maths; una costruzione debole, a weak construction; una protesta debole, a feeble protest // quale è il suo punto debole?, what's his weak point? // il sesso debole, (scherz.) the weaker sex // la carne è debole, the flesh is weak // (gramm.) verbi deboli, weak verbs // (fis.) interazione debole, weak interaction // (econ.): mercato debole, weak market; domanda debole, slack demand; moneta debole, weak currency◆ s.m.1 weak person, weakling: è un debole e suo figlio ne approfitta, he's a weak man and his son takes advantage of it3 (fig.) ( preferenza) weakness, weak point, foible, partiality, liking: ho un debole per i gelati, i romanzi gialli, I have a weakness for (o I'm partial to) ice cream, detective stories; ho un debole per i mobili Chippendale, I am particularly fond of (o I have a predilection for) Chippendale furniture; avere un debole per qlcu., to have a weakness (o liking) for s.o.* * *['debole]1. agg(gen) weak, feeble, (luce) dim, faint, (speranza, lamento, suono) faint, (polso) faint, weak, (argomentazioni) weak, pooressere debole di vista — to have weak o poor eyesight
2. sm/f(persona) weakling3. sm* * *['debole] 1.1) (privo di forza) weak, feeble (anche fig.)ho la vista debole — my eyes are weak, I am weak- sighted o weak-eyed
essere debole di cuore — to have a bad o weak heart
debole di mente — eufem. weak- o feeble-minded
il sesso debole — iron. scherz. the weaker sex
2) econ. [ mercati] weak, softmoneta debole — soft currency, token money
3) (privo di resistenza) [ struttura] weak, frail4) (privo di intensità) [ luce] weak, dim, feeble; [ suono] weak, feeble5) (poco convincente) [scuse, teoria] weak, feeble, flabby; [ protesta] faint6) (carente)è debole in francese — he's weak in o at French
punto debole — weak link o point o spot
7) (delicato) [stomaco, salute] delicate, weakessere debole di carattere — to have a weak character, to be weak-kneed
2.essere debole con qcn. — to be soft on sb
sostantivo maschile e sostantivo femminile (persona) weak person3.sostantivo maschile (inclinazione, simpatia) weakness, likingavere un debole per qcs. — to be partial for sth.
avere un debole per qcn. — to have a soft spot for sb
* * *debole/'debole/1 (privo di forza) weak, feeble (anche fig.); ho la vista debole my eyes are weak, I am weak- sighted o weak-eyed; essere debole di cuore to have a bad o weak heart; debole di mente eufem. weak- o feeble-minded; il sesso debole iron. scherz. the weaker sex3 (privo di resistenza) [ struttura] weak, frail5 (poco convincente) [scuse, teoria] weak, feeble, flabby; [ protesta] faint7 (delicato) [stomaco, salute] delicate, weak8 (privo di fermezza) essere debole di carattere to have a weak character, to be weak-kneed; essere debole con qcn. to be soft on sb.II m. e f.(persona) weak personIII sostantivo m.(inclinazione, simpatia) weakness, liking; avere un debole per qcs. to be partial for sth.; avere un debole per qcn. to have a soft spot for sb. -
2 essere debole di carattere
-
3 abulico
abulico agg.1 (med.) abulic2 (fig.) lacking in will-power; (fam.) weak-kneed.* * *1) med. abulic2) (indolente) abulic, listless* * *abulicopl. -ci, - che /a'buliko, t∫i, ke/1 med. abulic2 (indolente) abulic, listless. -
4 cartapesta
f papier-mâché* * *cartapesta s.f. paper-pulp; papier-mâché // uomo di cartapesta, weakling (o weak-kneed person) // eroe di cartapesta, tin god.* * *pl. cartapeste, cartepeste [karta'pesta, karta'peste, karte'peste] sostantivo femminile papier mâchéun eroe di cartapesta — fig. a tin god
* * *cartapestapl. cartapeste, cartepeste /karta'pesta, karta'peste, karte'peste/sostantivo f.papier mâché; un eroe di cartapesta fig. a tin god. -
5 stoppa
stoppa s.f. tow: stoppa catramata, oakum; (mar.) stoppa da calafato, caulking oakum // ha i capelli biondo stoppa, she has tow-coloured hair // un uomo di stoppa, a weak-kneed man.* * *['stoppa]sostantivo femminile tow; mar. oakumdai capelli di stoppa — tow-haired, tow-headed
* * *stoppa/'stoppa/sostantivo f.tow; mar. oakum; dai capelli di stoppa tow-haired, tow-headed.
См. также в других словарях:
Weak-kneed — a. Having weak knees; hence, easily yielding; wanting resolution. H. James. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
weak-kneed — [ ,wik nid ] adjective feeling weak from fear or excitement … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
weak-kneed — ► ADJECTIVE 1) weak and shaky from fear or excitement. 2) lacking in resolve or courage … English terms dictionary
weak-kneed — [wēknēd΄] adj. 1. having weak knees 2. lacking in courage, determination, resistance, etc … English World dictionary
weak-kneed — adj informal lacking courage and unable to make your own decisions … Dictionary of contemporary English
weak-kneed — weak′ kneed′ adj. yielding readily to opposition, pressure, intimidation, etc • Etymology: 1860–65 … From formal English to slang
weak-kneed — ADJ GRADED If you describe someone as weak kneed, you mean that they are unable or unwilling to do anything because they are influenced by a strong emotion such as fear. [INFORMAL] He would need all his authority to keep the weak kneed volunteers … English dictionary
weak-kneed — adjective Lacking will power or strength of character; timid. It is incontrovertible that the children grow up into rotten adults, without virility or stamina, a weak kneed, narrow chested, listless breed, that crumples up and goes down in the… … Wiktionary
weak-kneed — not strong in character, lacking will power Marvin yields to temptation, but I wouldn t say he s weak kneed … English idioms
weak-kneed — adjective lacking will power or resolution the role of the dissenter is not for the weak kneed • Similar to: ↑irresolute … Useful english dictionary
weak-kneed — weak kneedly, adv. weak kneedness, n. /week need /, adj. yielding readily to opposition, pressure, intimidation, etc. [1860 65] * * * … Universalium