B2 noun Neutre

browbeat

/ˈbraʊˌbiːt/

To intimidate or bully someone into doing something by using a stern, overbearing, or arrogant manner. It typically involves using one's authority or a threatening presence to force an agreement or specific behavior.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

My older brother tried to browbeat me into doing his chores by threatening to tell Mom about my secret.

My older brother tried to browbeat me into doing his chores by threatening to tell Mom about my secret.

2

The committee chairman was criticized for attempting to browbeat witnesses into changing their testimony during the hearing.

The committee chairman was criticized for attempting to browbeat witnesses into changing their testimony during the hearing.

3

Don't let him browbeat you into saying yes; you have every right to refuse the offer.

Don't let him browbeat you into saying yes; you have every right to refuse the offer.

Famille de mots

Nom
browbeating
Verb
browbeat
Adjectif
browbeaten
Apparenté
browbeater
💡

Astuce mémo

Think of someone lowering their 'brows' (eyebrows) in a mean look and 'beating' you down with their words until you give in.

Quiz rapide

The aggressive lawyer tried to _______ the witness into admitting guilt, but the judge intervened.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : browbeat

Exemples

1

My older brother tried to browbeat me into doing his chores by threatening to tell Mom about my secret.

everyday

My older brother tried to browbeat me into doing his chores by threatening to tell Mom about my secret.

2

The committee chairman was criticized for attempting to browbeat witnesses into changing their testimony during the hearing.

formal

The committee chairman was criticized for attempting to browbeat witnesses into changing their testimony during the hearing.

3

Don't let him browbeat you into saying yes; you have every right to refuse the offer.

informal

Don't let him browbeat you into saying yes; you have every right to refuse the offer.

4

Scholars argue that powerful nations often browbeat smaller states into signing unfavorable trade agreements.

academic

Scholars argue that powerful nations often browbeat smaller states into signing unfavorable trade agreements.

5

The manager would often browbeat his subordinates into working overtime without providing any additional compensation.

business

The manager would often browbeat his subordinates into working overtime without providing any additional compensation.

Famille de mots

Nom
browbeating
Verb
browbeat
Adjectif
browbeaten
Apparenté
browbeater

Collocations courantes

browbeat into submission browbeat into submission
browbeat a witness browbeat a witness
attempt to browbeat attempt to browbeat
browbeat someone into agreeing browbeat someone into agreeing
browbeat a subordinate browbeat a subordinate

Phrases Courantes

browbeat into an agreement

browbeat into an agreement

to browbeat someone into silence

to browbeat someone into silence

don't be browbeaten

don't be browbeaten

Souvent confondu avec

browbeat vs berate

To berate is to scold or criticize someone angrily, while to browbeat is to bully or force someone into doing something.

browbeat vs bully

Bullying is a general term for abuse, whereas browbeating specifically implies a psychological or intellectual overbearingness, often using one's status.

📝

Notes d'usage

Browbeat is most commonly used in the pattern 'browbeat someone into doing something.' It implies a sense of psychological pressure rather than just physical force.

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

Learners sometimes use 'browbeat' as a noun; however, the act itself is 'browbeating.' Also, remember it is an irregular verb: the past tense is 'browbeat' and the past participle is 'browbeaten.'

💡

Astuce mémo

Think of someone lowering their 'brows' (eyebrows) in a mean look and 'beating' you down with their words until you give in.

📖

Origine du mot

Derived from 'brow' (meaning the forehead/eyebrow expression) and 'beat,' suggesting the act of bearing down on someone with an intimidating or stern expression.

Modèles grammaticaux

Irregular verb: browbeat (present), browbeat (past), browbeaten (past participle). Commonly followed by 'into' + gerund (e.g., browbeat into signing).
🌍

Contexte culturel

In legal contexts, judges often warn lawyers not to browbeat witnesses during cross-examination to ensure a fair trial.

Quiz rapide

The aggressive lawyer tried to _______ the witness into admitting guilt, but the judge intervened.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : browbeat

Mots lis

ozone

B2

Ozone is a colorless gas found in the upper atmosphere that protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. It is also produced at ground level as a pollutant when sunlight reacts with industrial emissions.

layer

B2

A layer is a single thickness, sheet, or level of a material that covers a surface or is placed between other things. It can refer to physical substances like paint and geological strata, or abstract levels of complexity and meaning.

around

C2

As an adverb at a C2 level, it denotes presence, availability, or existence within a specific vicinity or context. It is also used to indicate approximate values or to describe movement or positioning that encircles a point or lacks a specific direction.

climate

B2

Climate refers to the long-term patterns of weather conditions, such as temperature and rainfall, in a particular region over many years. It can also describe the prevailing mood, conditions, or social atmosphere of a specific time or place.

immune

B2

Immune describes the state of being protected from a specific disease, typically through vaccination or prior exposure. It can also figuratively refer to being unaffected by something negative, such as criticism, or being exempt from certain duties or legal consequences.

virus

B2

A submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism, often causing disease. In technology, it refers to a piece of malicious code that replicates itself to damage or disrupt a computer system.

species

B2

A species is a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. It is the basic unit of biological classification and taxonomic rank in the hierarchy of living things.

business

B2

Used as an attributive adjective to describe things related to professional commerce, trade, or work activities. It distinguishes professional matters from personal, social, or recreational ones.

contract

C1

A formal and legally binding agreement between two or more parties that establishes mutual obligations. In academic and legal contexts, it refers to the specific terms, conditions, and enforcement mechanisms that govern a transaction or relationship.

bonus

B2

A bonus is an extra amount of money, credit, or benefit added to what is expected or required. It is typically given as a reward for good performance or as an incentive to encourage future effort.

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