barn door

• Grande porte d'une grange ou d'un bâtiment agricole, souvent coulissante ou à battants, permettant l'accès. S'emploie aussi au sens figuré dans l'expression « fermer la porte de l'écurie après que le cheval s'est enfui », signifiant prendre une mesure préventive trop tard.

A large door on a barn, often sliding or hinged, used for access. Also used figuratively in the phrase 'close the barn door after the horse has bolted,' meaning to take preventive action too late.

1. Large sliding doorA2formal

   A large, often sliding door used to close the entrance of a barn.

   Porte de grange

   • The farmer slid the barn door shut before the storm.
   • The old barn door creaked loudly in the wind.
   • He painted the barn door a bright red color.

2. Missed target (idiom)B2informalamerican

   Used in the phrase 'can't hit the broad side of a barn door' to describe someone who is a very poor shot.

   cible manquée

   • He's such a bad shot, he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn door.
   • The archer missed the target completely; he couldn't hit a barn door.
   • Don't let him shoot; he can't hit a barn door from ten feet away.