barb

pique, trait mordant

Petite remarque faite exprès pour blesser quelqu’un.

En anglais simple : A short, deliberately hurtful comment about someone.

• Her barb hurt his feelings.
• The candidates exchanged barbs during the debate.
• He aimed another barb at his former boss.

Synonymes : dig, insult, taunt

Expressions courantes : trade a barb, verbal barb, sharp barb

ardillon, barbelure

Pointe tournée vers l’arrière sur un hameçon ou une arme, qui rend son retrait difficile.

En anglais simple : A sharp point facing backward on a hook or weapon that makes it hard to pull out.

• The hook has a sharp barb.
• A barb caught in his sleeve.
• Removing the barbs makes these hooks safer for fish.

Expressions courantes : hook barb, arrow barb, sharp barb

munir de barbelures

Munir quelque chose de pointes tournées vers l’arrière pour qu’il accroche ou blesse.

En anglais simple : To put backward-facing sharp points on something so that it catches or hurts.

• They barb the hooks by hand.
• The maker barbed each arrow tip.
• Why would you barb this wire?

Expressions courantes : barb a hook, barb an arrow, barb the wire