threaten

menacer

Dire à quelqu’un qu’on lui fera du mal ou lui causera des problèmes s’il ne fait pas ce qu’on veut.

En anglais simple : To say you will hurt someone or cause trouble if they do not do what you want.

• Don’t threaten me.
• He threatened to break my phone.
• The robbers threatened the guard with a gun.

Comment l'utiliser : threaten to do something (He threatened to call the police.); threaten someone with something (The man threatened her with a knife.)

Synonymes : intimidate, menace

Expressions courantes : threaten someone, threaten to leave, threaten with something

menacer, mettre en danger

Créer un danger qui risque de nuire à quelqu’un ou d’abîmer ou détruire quelque chose.

En anglais simple : To create a danger that could harm or destroy someone or something.

• Floods threaten the village.
• The disease threatened her life.
• Rising costs threaten the company’s future.

Synonymes : endanger, jeopardize

Contraires : protect

Expressions courantes : threaten something, threaten someone, threaten wildlife

annoncer, menacer

Montrer des signes laissant penser que quelque chose de mauvais va se produire.

En anglais simple : To show signs that something bad is likely to happen.

• Dark clouds threaten rain.
• The heavy branch threatened to fall.
• The worsening weather threatened further delays.

Comment l'utiliser : threaten to do something (The old roof threatened to collapse.)

Synonymes : portend, foreshadow

Expressions courantes : threaten rain, threaten to fall, threaten disaster