ratchet

clé à cliquet

Outil pour tourner des écrous ou des boulons, dont le manche revient sans les faire tourner en sens inverse.

En anglais simple : A tool for turning nuts or bolts that can move back without turning the nut or bolt back.

• Pass me the ratchet, please.
• He used a ratchet to loosen the bolt.
• Does this socket fit your ratchet?

Synonymes : ratchet wrench, socket wrench

Expressions courantes : a socket ratchet, use a ratchet, ratchet handle

mécanisme à cliquet, cliquet

Dispositif à dents et à cliquet qui permet le mouvement dans un seul sens et empêche le retour.

En anglais simple : A device with teeth and a catch that allows movement in one direction but prevents movement back.

• The ratchet stops the wheel turning backwards.
• You can hear the ratchet clicking as you tighten the strap.
• A broken tooth prevented the ratchet from locking.

Expressions courantes : ratchet mechanism, ratchet wheel, a clicking ratchet

effet de cliquet

Règle ou processus qui permet un changement dans un sens, mais rend le retour en arrière difficile.

En anglais simple : A rule or process that allows change in one direction but makes reversing it difficult.

• The policy created an upward ratchet in costs.
• The wage agreement acted as a ratchet, preventing later reductions.
• Economists warned of a ratchet effect in public spending.

Expressions courantes : ratchet effect, an upward ratchet, a spending ratchet

cliquet

Petite pièce qui bloque une roue dentée pour l’empêcher de tourner en arrière.

En anglais simple : A small part that catches a toothed wheel and stops it turning backwards.

• The ratchet caught the next tooth.
• A spring holds the ratchet against the wheel.
• The wheel slipped backwards when the ratchet broke.

Synonymes : pawl, catch, detent

Expressions courantes : ratchet pawl, release the ratchet, ratchet catch

ajuster par paliers, augmenter progressivement, réduire progressivement

Augmenter, réduire ou serrer quelque chose par petites étapes.

En anglais simple : To increase, reduce, or tighten something in small steps.

• He ratcheted the strap tight.
• The government ratcheted up pressure on the company.
• Can we ratchet spending down gradually?

Comment l'utiliser : ratchet something up/down (The bank ratcheted interest rates up again.); ratchet up/down something (They ratcheted down their demands.)

Synonymes : adjust gradually, tighten

Expressions courantes : ratchet something up, ratchet something down, ratchet the strap

évoluer par paliers, avancer par crans

Bouger ou changer par petites étapes, souvent grâce à un mécanisme qui empêche de revenir en arrière.

En anglais simple : To move or change in small steps, often with a mechanism that prevents movement back.

• The handle ratchets into position.
• Tensions ratcheted up after the announcement.
• The seat ratchets forward but cannot slide back freely.

Comment l'utiliser : ratchet up/down (Prices ratcheted up throughout the summer.)

Synonymes : shift, change gradually

Expressions courantes : ratchet up, ratchet down, ratchet into place