shaky

shaky
shaky [ˈ∫eɪkɪ]
adjective
   a. ( = weak) [person] (from illness) chancelant ; (from nerves) mal à l'aise
• he's still a bit shaky (illness) il ne tient pas encore bien sur ses jambes ; (from nerves) il est encore fragile
   b. ( = trembling) [legs] (from fear, illness) flageolant ; [voice] (from fear, illness) tremblant ; (from age) chevrotant ; (from nerves) mal assuré ; [hand] tremblant ; [handwriting] tremblé
• her legs were shaky elle flageolait sur ses jambes
   c. ( = wobbly) [table] branlant ; [building] peu solide
   d. ( = uncertain) [argument] boiteux ; [knowledge] très imparfait ; [health] chancelant ; [prospects] précaire
• shaky finances une situation financière précaire
• my Spanish is very shaky mon espagnol est très hésitant
• to get off to a shaky start partir sur un mauvais pied
* * *
['ʃeɪkɪ]
adjective
1) [chair, ladder] branlant

my hands are rather shaky — j'ai les mains qui tremblent

I feel a bit shaky — je me sens un peu flageolant

2) fig [relationship, position] instable; [argument] peu solide; [knowledge, memory] peu sûr; [regime] chancelant
3) fig (uncertain) [start] chancelant

we got off to a rather shaky start — (in relationship, business) au début cela a été difficile pour nous; (in performance) nous étions très peu sûrs de nous au début

my French is a bit shaky — mon français est un peu hésitant


English-French dictionary. 2013.

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