grasp

comprendre, saisir

Comprendre une idée ou le fonctionnement de quelque chose.

En anglais simple : To understand an idea or how something works.

• I cannot grasp this idea.
• She quickly grasped how the machine worked.
• Have you grasped the main point yet?

Synonymes : understand, get

Expressions courantes : grasp an idea, grasp the meaning

saisir, agripper

Prendre quelque chose et le tenir fermement avec une ou deux mains.

En anglais simple : To take and hold something firmly with your hand or hands.

• Grasp the handle firmly.
• He grasped my hand and pulled me up.
• She grasped at the rope but missed it.

Comment l'utiliser : grasp at something (She grasped at a branch as she slipped.)

Synonymes : grip, seize, grab

Contraires : release

Expressions courantes : grasp something firmly, grasp someone’s hand, grasp at something

prise

Maintien ferme de quelque chose avec la main.

En anglais simple : A firm hold on something with your hand.

• The rope slipped from my grasp.
• She kept a firm grasp on his arm.
• He loosened his grasp and let the bird go.

Synonymes : grip, hold

Expressions courantes : a firm grasp, in someone’s grasp, escape someone’s grasp

portée

Étendue de ce qu’on peut atteindre, obtenir ou maîtriser.

En anglais simple : The range of things you can reach, achieve, or control.

• Victory was within our grasp.
• The prize slipped out of her grasp.
• Real power remained beyond their grasp.

Comment l'utiliser : within someone’s grasp (The championship is finally within our grasp.); beyond someone’s grasp (A house that expensive is beyond my grasp.)

Synonymes : reach

Expressions courantes : within someone’s grasp, beyond someone’s grasp