desert

désert

Grande étendue de terre où il pleut très peu et où poussent peu de plantes.

En anglais simple : A large area of land with very little rain and few plants.

• The desert is very dry.
• They crossed the desert on camels.
• Some deserts become freezing cold at night.

Synonymes : wasteland

Expressions courantes : sandy desert, cross the desert, desert landscape

juste rétribution, châtiment mérité

Récompense ou punition que quelqu’un mérite ; ce mot s’emploie généralement au pluriel en anglais.

En anglais simple : A reward or punishment that someone deserves, usually used in the plural.

• The thief got his just deserts.
• She hoped the dishonest manager would receive his just deserts.
• In the story, every villain eventually gets their just deserts.

Synonymes : due reward, due punishment

Expressions courantes : just deserts, get just deserts

désert, inhabité

Se dit d’un lieu où personne ne vit.

En anglais simple : Having no people living there.

• They reached a desert island.
• Could you survive alone on a desert island?
• The sailors spent months on a desert isle.

Synonymes : uninhabited, deserted

Contraires : inhabited

Expressions courantes : desert island, desert isle

abandonner, délaisser

Quitter une personne ou une chose dont on devrait s’occuper ou que l’on devrait soutenir.

En anglais simple : To leave someone or something you should support or look after.

• He deserted his family.
• Her friends deserted her when she needed help.
• Many supporters have deserted the party.

Synonymes : abandon, leave, forsake

Contraires : support

Expressions courantes : desert someone, desert your family, desert a cause

déserter

Quitter l’armée ou abandonner une autre responsabilité sans autorisation.

En anglais simple : To leave military service or another duty without permission.

• The soldier deserted his post.
• Several recruits deserted during the winter.
• He was arrested for deserting from the army.

Comment l'utiliser : desert from something (Two soldiers deserted from the regiment.)

Synonymes : abscond, abandon one's post

Expressions courantes : desert the army, desert your post, desert a unit