hollow out

évider, creuser

Enlever l'intérieur de quelque chose pour y laisser un espace vide.

En anglais simple : To remove the inside of something, leaving an empty space.

• We hollowed out a pumpkin.
• She is hollowing out the wood with a small knife.
• Can you hollow this melon out for the fruit salad?

Comment l'utiliser : hollow something out (We hollowed the log out with simple tools.)

Synonymes : empty, scoop out

Contraires : fill

Expressions courantes : hollow out something, hollow out a pumpkin

affaiblir, vider de sa substance

Affaiblir une organisation ou un système en supprimant des éléments importants.

En anglais simple : To make an organization or system weaker by removing important parts of it.

• The cuts hollowed out public services.
• Corruption is hollowing out the government.
• Moving jobs abroad can hollow a local economy out.

Comment l'utiliser : hollow something out (Years of cuts have hollowed the service out.)

Synonymes : weaken, undermine

Contraires : strengthen

Expressions courantes : hollow out democracy, hollow out something

se creuser

Développer un espace vide à l'intérieur.

En anglais simple : To develop an empty space inside.

• Old trees sometimes hollow out.
• The trunk hollowed out as the wood rotted.
• These bones can hollow out over time.

Synonymes : become hollow

Expressions courantes : trees hollow out, bones hollow out