lapse

défaillance, erreur

Erreur passagère ou moment où la mémoire ou l’attention fait défaut.

En anglais simple : A brief mistake or failure to remember or pay enough attention.

• I had a memory lapse.
• A lapse in concentration caused the accident.
• She regretted that brief lapse of judgment.

Comment l'utiliser : lapse in something (One lapse in attention can be dangerous.); lapse of something (That decision was a lapse of judgment.)

Synonymes : slip, error, oversight

Expressions courantes : memory lapse, lapse in concentration, lapse of judgment

rechuter

Recommencer un comportement nuisible après avoir essayé d’y mettre fin.

En anglais simple : To start doing something harmful again after trying to stop.

• He lapsed into his old habits.
• She had stopped smoking but lapsed last weekend.
• Stress made him lapse back into heavy drinking.

Comment l'utiliser : lapse into something (He lapsed into gambling again.); lapse back into something (She lapsed back into her old routine.)

Synonymes : relapse, backslide

Expressions courantes : lapse into something, lapse back into

faillir, commettre une erreur

Commettre une erreur parce qu’on cesse de faire attention.

En anglais simple : To make a mistake because you stop being careful.

• Even careful workers sometimes lapse.
• He lapsed in his duty to check the figures.
• Her attention lapsed, and she missed the warning.

Comment l'utiliser : lapse in something (She lapsed in her duty to report the damage.)

Synonymes : slip, err

Expressions courantes : lapse in something, occasionally lapse