backbone

colonne vertébrale, épine dorsale

Suite d’os reliés entre eux le long du milieu du dos d’une personne ou d’un animal.

En anglais simple : The line of connected bones down the middle of a person's or animal's back.

• Fish have a backbone.
• The fall damaged his backbone.
• Which animals have no backbone?

Synonymes : spine, spinal column

Expressions courantes : broken backbone, animal backbone, backbone injury

colonne vertébrale, pilier

Élément essentiel qui soutient quelque chose et lui permet de rester solide ou de bien fonctionner.

En anglais simple : The most important part that supports something and keeps it strong or working well.

• Volunteers are the backbone of this club.
• Railways once formed the backbone of trade.
• These cables provide the network's backbone.

Comment l'utiliser : the backbone of something (Small farms are the backbone of the local economy.)

Synonymes : mainstay, foundation, core

Expressions courantes : backbone of something, economic backbone, network backbone, transport backbone

courage, fermeté

Courage de se défendre ou de faire ce qu’on croit juste, même quand c’est difficile.

En anglais simple : The courage to defend yourself or do what you believe is right, even when it is difficult.

• Show some backbone!
• He lacked the backbone to say no.
• Our new leader has plenty of backbone.

Comment l'utiliser : have the backbone to do something (She had the backbone to challenge the decision.)

Synonymes : courage, resolve, strength

Contraires : cowardice

Expressions courantes : show some backbone, have some backbone, lack backbone, have backbone