act on

suivre, agir selon

Faire quelque chose en se fondant sur une information, un conseil ou des instructions reçus.

En anglais simple : To do something because of information, advice, or instructions you have received.

• You should act on her advice.
• The police acted on a tip and found the stolen car.
• Have they acted on the report’s recommendations?

Comment l'utiliser : act on something (The police acted on information from a neighbour.)

Synonymes : follow, respond to

Contraires : ignore

Expressions courantes : act on advice, act on information

céder à, suivre

Faire quelque chose sous l’effet d’une envie ou d’une impulsion soudaine.

En anglais simple : To do something because you feel a desire or sudden urge to do it.

• Do not act on every impulse.
• She acted on her feelings and asked him out.
• Have you ever acted on an urge you later regretted?

Comment l'utiliser : act on something (He acted on his desire to travel and booked a flight.)

Synonymes : give in to, follow

Contraires : resist

Expressions courantes : act on impulse, act on feelings

s’attaquer à, agir contre

Prendre des mesures pour régler un problème ou arrêter quelque chose de nuisible.

En anglais simple : To take steps to deal with a problem or stop something harmful.

• We must act on climate change.
• The government finally acted on the housing crisis.
• Why has nobody acted on this problem sooner?

Comment l'utiliser : act on something (The council must act on air pollution.)

Synonymes : tackle, address, deal with

Contraires : ignore

Expressions courantes : act on pollution, act on something

agir sur, affecter

Produire un changement ou un effet sur quelque chose.

En anglais simple : To produce a change or effect in something.

• The medicine acts on the nerves.
• Gravity acts on every object near the Earth.
• Different enzymes act on different foods.

Comment l'utiliser : act on something (This chemical acts on the surface of the metal.)

Synonymes : affect, influence

Expressions courantes : act on cells, act on something

jouer sur, jouer à

Jouer un rôle dans une pièce, un film ou un spectacle sur une scène ou un support précis.

En anglais simple : To perform a role in a play, film, or show on a particular stage or platform.

• She wants to act on television.
• He acted on that stage when he was young.
• Do you prefer to act on stage or in films?

Synonymes : perform on

Expressions courantes : act on stage, act on television