Expression Cards
7546 cards available.
idiom
a slippery slope
une action qui semble mener à des conséquences indésirables ou dangereuses
Meaning
a course of action that seems to lead to undesirable or dangerous consequences
Example
Starting to ignore small violations can lead to **a slippery slope** of bigger legal issues.
idiom
a slow learner
quelqu'un qui met du temps à comprendre ou à apprendre
Meaning
someone who takes time to understand or learn things
Example
Don’t worry if you need more time—you’re just **a slow learner**.
idiom
a smart cookie
une personne très intelligente ou astucieuse
Meaning
a very clever or intelligent person
Example
Don’t underestimate her; she’s **a smart cookie**.
idiom
a smoke-filled room
un endroit où les personnes puissantes prennent des décisions politiques secrètes
Meaning
a place where powerful people make secret political decisions
Example
The policy was decided in **a smoke-filled room**, not in public.
idiom
a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor
Les défis et les difficultés rendent les gens plus forts et plus expérimentés.
Meaning
Challenges and difficulties make people stronger and more experienced.
Example
Remember, **a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor**—you’ll learn from tough times.
idiom
a snake in the grass
un ennemi secret
Meaning
a secret enemy
Example
Be careful; there’s **a snake in the grass**.
idiom
A snapshot of
un bref aperçu ou résumé de quelque chose
Meaning
A brief look or summary of something
Example
The report gives **a snapshot of** our company's performance.
idiom
a snowball effect
une situation où quelque chose augmente en taille ou en importance de plus en plus rapidement
Meaning
a situation in which something increases in size or importance at a faster and faster rate
Example
The more followers she got, the more famous she became, creating **a snowball effect**.
idiom
a snowball's chance in hell
aucune chance du tout
Meaning
no chance at all
Example
He has **a snowball's chance in hell** of winning the lottery.
idiom
a social butterfly
quelqu'un de très sociable et qui aime rencontrer des gens
Meaning
someone who is very social and enjoys meeting people
Example
He’s **a social butterfly**, always at some event or gathering.
idiom
A solid foundation
Une base ou un point de départ fort et fiable.
Meaning
A strong and reliable base or starting point.
Example
The success of this company is built on a **solid foundation** of hard work and dedication.
idiom
a sound bite
une partie courte et mémorable d'un discours ou d'une interview souvent utilisée dans les médias
Meaning
a short, memorable part of a speech or interview often used in the media
Example
The politician's **sound bite** was replayed on every major news channel.
idiom
a sound mind in a sound body
la santé mentale dépend de la santé physique
Meaning
mental health depends on physical health
Example
**A sound mind in a sound body** is the key to a happy life.
idiom
a spark of genius
une idée soudaine et brillante
Meaning
a sudden and brilliant idea
Example
Her **spark of genius** helped us solve the problem quickly.
idiom
a splash of color
une petite quantité de couleur brillante ajoutée pour l'effet
Meaning
a small amount of bright color added for effect
Example
Add **a splash of color** to make the room lively.
idiom
a steep learning curve
quand quelque chose est difficile à apprendre, généralement rapidement
Meaning
when something is difficult to learn, usually quickly
Example
The new software had a **steep learning curve**, but I managed to understand it.
idiom
a step in the right direction
une petite action qui mène à des progrès vers un objectif
Meaning
a small action that leads to progress towards a goal
Example
Completing the first phase of the project is definitely **a step in the right direction**.
idiom
a stepping stone
un événement ou une expérience qui aide à progresser
Meaning
an event or experience that helps one to progress
Example
This internship was **a stepping stone** to my career.
idiom
A stitch in time saves nine
Résoudre un petit problème tôt empêche un plus grand problème plus tard.
Meaning
Solving a small problem early prevents a bigger problem later.
Example
Fix that leak now — a stitch in time saves nine.
idiom
a storm in a teacup
un petit problème exagéré
Meaning
a small problem that is exaggerated
Example
Their argument was just **a storm in a teacup**.
idiom
a storybook ending
une fin parfaite ou heureuse, comme dans un conte de fées
Meaning
a perfect or happy ending, like in a fairy tale
Example
Their wedding was a true **storybook ending**.
idiom
a stroke of genius
une idée brillante et créative
Meaning
a brilliant and creative idea
Example
Her design was **a stroke of genius**.
idiom
a stroke of luck
quelque chose de bien qui arrive par hasard
Meaning
something good that happens by chance
Example
It was **a stroke of luck** that I found my lost wallet.
idiom
a taste of your own medicine
expérimenter la même contrariété que vous avez causée aux autres
Meaning
to experience the same unpleasantness you caused to others
Example
He was rude to everyone, but now he’s getting **a taste of his own medicine**.