spine

colonne vertébrale

Suite d’os reliés entre eux qui descend au milieu du dos.

En anglais simple : The line of connected bones down the middle of your back.

• Keep your spine straight.
• The fall damaged his spine.
• The doctor checked her spine for signs of injury.

Synonymes : backbone, spinal column

Expressions courantes : injured spine, curved spine, base of spine

épine, piquant

Pointe dure et aiguë qui pousse sur un animal ou une plante.

En anglais simple : A stiff, sharp point growing on an animal or plant.

• A spine pricked my finger.
• The hedgehog raised its spines.
• Some fish have poisonous spines on their backs.

Synonymes : prickle, thorn

Expressions courantes : cactus spine, sharp spine, poisonous spine

dos

Bord étroit à l’arrière d’un livre où les pages sont attachées ensemble.

En anglais simple : The narrow back edge of a book where its pages are held together.

• The title is on the spine.
• The old book had a cracked spine.
• She repaired the spines of several damaged books.

Comment l'utiliser : spine of something (The title is printed on the spine of the book.)

Synonymes : back

Expressions courantes : book spine, cracked spine, spine of something

courage, cran

Courage nécessaire pour se défendre ou faire quelque chose de difficile.

En anglais simple : The courage to stand up for yourself or do something difficult.

• Show some spine!
• He lacked the spine to challenge his boss.
• She finally showed some spine and refused to work unpaid.

Synonymes : courage, backbone, nerve

Contraires : cowardice

Expressions courantes : have some spine, show some spine, lack spine