twist

twist [twɪst]

1. noun

   a. ( = action) torsion f ; ( = injury) entorse f

• with a quick twist (of the wrist) d'un rapide tour de poignet

   b. ( = coil) rouleau m ; (in road) tournant m ; [of events] tournure f ; [of meaning] distorsion f

• the story has an unexpected twist to it l'histoire prend un tour inattendu

• he gave a new twist to this old plot il a remis cette vieille histoire au goût du jour

• to drive sb round the twist (inf!) rendre qn fou

2. transitive verb

( = turn round on itself, deform) tordre ; ( = coil) enrouler ; [+ top, cap] tourner ; [+ meaning] fausser ; [+ words] déformer

• to get twisted [rope] s'entortiller

• to twist one's ankle se tordre la cheville

• to twist sb's arm (figurative) forcer la main à qn

• she can twist him round her little finger elle le mène par le bout du nez

3. intransitive verb

[flex, rope] s'entortiller ; [one's ankle] se tordre

• the road twists (and turns) through the valley la route serpente à travers la vallée

* * *

[twɪst] 1.

noun

1) (action)

he gave the cap a twist — (to open) il a dévissé le bouchon; (to close) il a vissé le bouchon

with a couple of twists she unscrewed the lid — en deux tours de poignet elle a dévissé le couvercle

2) (in rope, cord, wool) tortillon m; (in road) zigzag m; (in river) coude m

3) fig (in play, story) coup m de théâtre; (episode in crisis, events) rebondissement m

the twists and turns of the plot — le fil tortueux de l'intrigue

4) (small amount) (of yarn, thread, hair) torsade f

a twist of lemon — une tranche de citron

5) (dance)

the twist — le twist

2.

transitive verb

1) (turn) tourner [knob, handle]; (open) dévisser [cap, lid]; (close) visser [cap, lid]

to twist something off — dévisser quelque chose [cap, lid]

to twist somebody's arm — lit tordre le bras à quelqu'un; fig forcer la main à quelqu'un

2) (wind, twine)

to twist threads together — torsader des fils

to twist X round Y — enrouler X autour de Y

she twisted the scarf (round) in her hands — elle tortillait l'écharpe entre ses doigts

3) (bend, distort) tordre [metal, rod, branch]; fig déformer [words, facts, meaning]

his face was twisted with pain — son visage était tordu de douleur

4) (injure)

to twist one's ankle/wrist — se tordre la cheville/le poignet

to twist one's neck — attraper un torticolis

3.

intransitive verb

1) [person]

he lay twisting and writhing on the ground — il se tordait et se contorsionnait sur le sol

to twist round — (turn round) se retourner

he twisted around in his chair — il s'est retourné dans son fauteuil

2) [rope, flex, coil] s'entortiller; [river, road] serpenter

to twist and turn — [road, path] serpenter

••

(to have a) twist in the tail — (avoir un) dénouement inattendu

to go round the twist — (colloq) devenir fou/folle

to drive somebody round the twist — (colloq) rendre quelqu'un fou/folle

English-French dictionary. 2013.