stretch

étirer, tendre

Rendre quelque chose plus long ou plus large en tirant dessus.

En anglais simple : To make something longer or wider by pulling it.

• Stretch the band gently.
• He stretched the shirt until it fitted.
• Can you stretch this fabric a little?

Synonymes : lengthen, extend

Contraires : compress

Expressions courantes : stretch something out, stretch a band, stretch the fabric, stretch the material

s’étendre

Couvrir une zone ou se prolonger sur une certaine distance.

En anglais simple : To reach across an area or continue for a particular distance.

• The road stretches into the distance.
• Green fields stretched across the valley.
• How far does the beach stretch?

Comment l'utiliser : stretch from A to B (The forest stretches from the river to the mountains.); stretch across something (Fields stretch across the valley.); stretch for something (The beach stretches for several miles.)

Synonymes : extend, reach

Expressions courantes : stretch across something, stretch from something, stretch for miles

s’étirer, s’allonger

Devenir plus long ou plus large quand on tire dessus.

En anglais simple : To become longer or wider when pulled.

• This fabric stretches easily.
• The elastic stretched without breaking.
• Will the shirt stretch enough to fit?

Synonymes : lengthen, expand

Contraires : shrink

Expressions courantes : stretch easily, stretch under pressure, stretch without breaking

tronçon, portion

Partie continue d’une route, d’un voyage ou d’un autre parcours.

En anglais simple : A continuous part of a road, journey, or other route.

• The last stretch was uphill.
• We drove along a quiet stretch of road.
• Several stretches of the route were closed.

Comment l'utiliser : stretch of something (This stretch of road is dangerous in winter.)

Synonymes : section, segment

Expressions courantes : final stretch, stretch of road, last stretch

période

Durée sans interruption passée à faire quelque chose ou à rester quelque part.

En anglais simple : A continuous period of time spent doing something or being somewhere.

• I slept for a long stretch.
• She worked eight hours at a stretch.
• His two stretches in prison changed his life.

Comment l'utiliser : stretch of something (We enjoyed a long stretch of sunny weather.); for something at a stretch (He worked for six hours at a stretch.)

Synonymes : period, spell

Expressions courantes : long stretch, stretch of time, at a stretch

étirement

Action de tirer sur quelque chose pour le rendre plus long ou plus large.

En anglais simple : An act of pulling something so that it becomes longer or wider.

• One stretch made the band longer.
• Give the fabric a gentle stretch.
• Repeated stretches weakened the elastic.

Comment l'utiliser : stretch of something (A gentle stretch of the elastic loosened it.)

Synonymes : pull

Expressions courantes : gentle stretch, stretch of something

exagération

Idée ou affirmation difficile à croire parce qu’elle dépasse ce que les faits permettent de dire.

En anglais simple : An idea or statement that is difficult to believe because it goes beyond the facts.

• That explanation is a stretch.
• It would be a stretch to call this a success.
• Even with that evidence, her claim remains a stretch.

Comment l'utiliser : be a stretch to do something (It is a stretch to call him an expert.)

Synonymes : exaggeration

Expressions courantes : quite a stretch, stretch to say, stretch of imagination, stretch to believe