windmill

mulino a vento

Macchina con grandi pale mosse dal vento, usata per macinare cereali, pompare acqua o produrre energia.

In inglese semplice: A machine with large blades turned by wind, used to grind grain, pump water, or produce power.

• The windmill turns in the wind.
• An old windmill once ground grain here.
• These windmills pump water for the farm.

Espressioni comuni: old windmill, windmill blades, wooden windmill

nemico immaginario

Nemico o problema che qualcuno crede reale, ma che esiste soltanto nella sua immaginazione.

In inglese semplice: An enemy or problem that someone believes is real although it exists only in their imagination.

• The enemy he feared was merely a windmill.
• She wasted years fighting political windmills.
• His campaign attacked windmills while real problems went unsolved.

Sinonimi: imaginary enemy

Espressioni comuni: imaginary windmill, fight a windmill, a political windmill

roteare

Muovere qualcosa, soprattutto le braccia, descrivendo grandi cerchi.

In inglese semplice: To move something, especially your arms, in large circles.

• He began to windmill his arms.
• She windmilled wildly as she lost her balance.
• The dancer was windmilling both arms above his head.

Sinonimi: rotate, swing around

Espressioni comuni: windmill your arms, windmill wildly, windmill both arms

girare liberamente

Girare liberamente senza essere azionato da un motore, spesso dopo esserne stato scollegato.

In inglese semplice: To turn freely without being driven by a motor, often after becoming disconnected.

• The propeller continued to windmill.
• The disconnected wheel windmilled for a few seconds.
• Airflow kept the blades windmilling after the engine stopped.

Sinonimi: freewheel, spin freely

Espressioni comuni: windmill freely, windmill in airflow, windmill without power