threaten

amenazar

Decir a alguien que le harás daño o causarás problemas si no hace lo que quieres.

En inglés sencillo: To say you will hurt someone or cause trouble if they do not do what you want.

• Don’t threaten me.
• He threatened to break my phone.
• The robbers threatened the guard with a gun.

Cómo se usa: threaten to do something (He threatened to call the police.); threaten someone with something (The man threatened her with a knife.)

Sinónimos: intimidate, menace

Expresiones frecuentes: threaten someone, threaten to leave, threaten with something

poner en peligro, amenazar

Crear un peligro que puede dañar o destruir a alguien o algo.

En inglés sencillo: To create a danger that could harm or destroy someone or something.

• Floods threaten the village.
• The disease threatened her life.
• Rising costs threaten the company’s future.

Sinónimos: endanger, jeopardize

Antónimos: protect

Expresiones frecuentes: threaten something, threaten someone, threaten wildlife

presagiar, amenazar

Mostrar señales de que probablemente ocurrirá algo malo.

En inglés sencillo: To show signs that something bad is likely to happen.

• Dark clouds threaten rain.
• The heavy branch threatened to fall.
• The worsening weather threatened further delays.

Cómo se usa: threaten to do something (The old roof threatened to collapse.)

Sinónimos: portend, foreshadow

Expresiones frecuentes: threaten rain, threaten to fall, threaten disaster