Leçon 5: Expression de la méthode
To allow for : Prendre en considération, tenir compte de . Exemples:
- Estimates of delivery time abroad should allow for customs clearance.
- Company cash-flow projections are inaccurate: they don't allow for bad debts or salary increases.
Bit by bit (gradually, in small pieces): Par étapes, petit à petit, graduellement, progressivement. (L'expression peut être utilisée comme adjectif. Voici quelques exemples :
- At first, you may find the process as a whole difficult to understand ; but if you examine it bit by bit you'll see it's not really so complex.
- Although the sales target seems a long way off at the moment, we seem to be getting there bit by bit.
- I know it seems like a bit-by-bit process at first signt, but when you understand the procedures fully, you will see how each step fits together in a smooth progession.
To carry out (to fulfil, to perform) : Exécuter, accomplir, effectuer. Exemples :
- The oil company is carrying out geological surveys in the area before drilling begins.
- Since you have failed to carry out your agreement to repay the loan and interest by the due date, we are taking step to recover by legal process
To check over: Vérifier pour voir s'il n'y a pas de fautes, ou une erreur qui s'est glissée. Pas toujours évident ! Nom dérivé : a checkover. Quelques exemples.
- Letters should be checked over for mistakes before being sent.
- Airline ground crews give all aircraft a checkover before takeoff.
A dry(dummy) run : Un essai (à blanc), un entraînement, une expérimentation d'une machine, d'un produit ou d'une présentation. Exemples.
- Before launching a national market survey, the market reseachers carried out several dry runs at local level in order to test the reaction to their questionnaire.
- Before making a presentation , it's a good idea to do a dummy run by recording yourself on video or cassette and check the result.
In depth : En profondeur, complet, en détail. Peut être utilisé comme adjectif ( "an in-depth study" = "une étude approfondie") . Exemples :
- At first sight, these proposals seem interesting but we need to study them in depth before reaching a conclusion.
- At our last meeting, we discussed the subject in bare outilne. We now need to examine it bit by bit, in depth.
- An in-depth analysis of the test results produced some surprising conclusions.
The ins and outs (of) : Tous les détails sur une question, un sujet, d'une méthode... Exemple
- First of all, I want to present a bare outline of the situation : we'll go into the ins and outs of it later.
- Our brochure explains the ins and outs of how to operate the equipment.
To make sure : S'assurer de , vérifier que. Exemples :
- When you check over the equipment, make absolutely sure that all components are in good working order.
- I'll see you on Tuesday, then ; and don't forget, make sure you bring all the papers with you.
To plan (or think) ahead : Prévoir, planifier, calculer, penser d'avance. Exemple :
- The purpose of this meeting is to plan ahead for next year's marketing strategy.
- If you had planned ahead, you could have avoided some problems you came up against.
Cette leçon a été adaptée de Business Idioms International, Christopher Goddard, Phoenix Elt. |
