tangle

emmêler, s’emmêler

Entrelacer des choses au point de rendre leur séparation difficile, ou se retrouver ainsi entrelacé.

En anglais simple : If things twist around each other, they become difficult to separate.

• The wind tangled my hair.
• These wires tangle easily.
• Her necklace got tangled in her scarf.

Comment l'utiliser : tangle in something (The string tangled in the branches.); tangle something up (The wind tangled the ropes up.)

Synonymes : entangle, twist

Contraires : untangle

Expressions courantes : tangle something up, tangle together, tangle in something

se frotter, se battre

Se battre ou se disputer avec quelqu’un.

En anglais simple : To fight or argue with someone.

• Do not tangle with him.
• She tangled with her boss over pay.
• The protesters tangled with police outside the building.

Comment l'utiliser : tangle with someone (He tangled with a much stronger opponent.)

Synonymes : fight, clash, argue

Expressions courantes : tangle with someone, tangle with police

enchevêtrement, nœud

Ensemble de fils, de cheveux ou d’éléments semblables emmêlés et difficiles à séparer.

En anglais simple : A group of threads, hairs, or similar things twisted together and difficult to separate.

• My hair is a tangle.
• She found a tangle of wires under the desk.
• He carefully removed the tangles from the fishing line.

Comment l'utiliser : a tangle of something (A tangle of roots blocked the path.)

Synonymes : knot

Expressions courantes : tangle of wires, tangle of hair, in a tangle

embrouillamini, imbroglio

Situation confuse où de nombreux problèmes liés entre eux sont difficiles à résoudre.

En anglais simple : A confusing situation with many connected problems that are difficult to solve.

• His finances are in a tangle.
• We must sort out this legal tangle.
• The new law created a tangle of conflicting rules.

Comment l'utiliser : a tangle of something (The case involves a tangle of legal problems.)

Synonymes : mess, muddle

Expressions courantes : legal tangle, tangle of rules, in a tangle