threaten

minacciare

Dire a qualcuno che gli farai del male o creerai problemi se non fa ciò che vuoi.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Come si usa: threaten to do something (He threatened to call the police.); threaten someone with something (The man threatened her with a knife.)

Sinonimi: intimidate, menace

Espressioni comuni: threaten someone, threaten to leave, threaten with something

minacciare, mettere in pericolo

Creare un pericolo che potrebbe danneggiare o distruggere qualcuno o qualcosa.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Sinonimi: endanger, jeopardize

Contrari: protect

Espressioni comuni: threaten something, threaten someone, threaten wildlife

preannunciare, minacciare

Mostrare segnali che fanno pensare che stia per succedere qualcosa di brutto.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Come si usa: threaten to do something (The old roof threatened to collapse.)

Sinonimi: portend, foreshadow

Espressioni comuni: threaten rain, threaten to fall, threaten disaster