wear down

épuiser, user

Rendre quelqu’un très fatigué physiquement ou mentalement, petit à petit.

En anglais simple : To gradually make someone very tired in their body or mind.

• The long hours wear me down.
• Months of worry wore him down.
• She felt worn down by the constant noise.

Comment l'utiliser : wear someone down (Working nights has worn her down.)

Synonymes : exhaust, tire out, drain

Contraires : energize, refresh

Expressions courantes : wear someone down, wear down someone

faire céder, venir à bout de

Insister jusqu’à ce que quelqu’un cède ou ne puisse plus résister.

En anglais simple : To keep trying until someone gives in or can no longer fight against you.

• The children kept asking and wore me down.
• Repeated attacks wore down the enemy's defenses.
• She finally wore him down and he agreed to help.

Comment l'utiliser : wear someone down (They wore him down with repeated requests.)

Synonymes : overcome, break down

Expressions courantes : wear someone down, wear down resistance

user, s'user

Devenir plus petit ou plus lisse par frottement ou utilisation, ou rendre quelque chose ainsi.

En anglais simple : To make something smaller or smoother through repeated rubbing or use, or become smaller this way.

• The soles wear down quickly.
• Years of footsteps wore down the stone steps.
• Grinding your teeth can wear them down.

Comment l'utiliser : wear something down (Flowing water wears the rocks down.)

Synonymes : erode, abrade

Expressions courantes : wear down something, wear something down, wear down slowly