Sobriety and business: 10 expressions to discuss the subject in English

1. Abstemious / affluent living

Sobriety requires reviewing our lifestyles and adopting more frugal habits. What’s in the phrase ‘abstemious living’? We can oppose it with the phrase “affluent living” which designates a prosperous way of life.

The adjective abstemious has its origins in Latin – just like the French term abstinence (from abs which means “without” and tem(etum) “alcoholic drink”).

2. Purchasing power

In other words, the purchasing power that opposes the concept of sobriety.

3.Bare minimum

Making efforts to be sober often means limiting your consumption or travel to the strict minimum.

“To keep one’s consumption to the bare minimum” means reducing consumption to the bare minimum.

4. To scale back

In the context of an economic downturn, many companies are sometimes forced to reduce their expenses or their workforce.

In English, you can use the verb phrase “to scale back”.

5. To brace for difficult times

Faced with an unfavorable socio-economic context, European governments are preparing their fellow citizens for the coming difficult months.

This idea translates as follows in English: “to brace for difficult times”.

6. Energy sobriety

This is energy sobriety, namely the reduction of energy consumption.

7. Price cap / to cap

In the current context, some states set a ceiling price on gas and electricity in order to reduce energy expenditure.

In English, the official expression is “price cap” (literally, a price cap). Or “to cap” which means to cap: “to cap fuel prices and energy bills”. In other words, cap fuel prices and energy bills.

8. Ease up on the energy use

In a context of sobriety, the phrase “to ease up on” means to ease up on, not to overdo it.

So we will say “You should ease up on your energy use this winter if you don’t want to pay enormous amounts of money”. which translates, in French, by: You should slow down your energy consumption this winter if you do not want to pay colossal sums.

9. Anti-waste

It is the English equivalent of the famous term “anti-gaspi”.

10. To enter uncharted waters

The current period may seem, for some, an unknown territory on which to venture. To express this notion in English, you will use the expression “to enter unchartered waters”.

“Unchartered” literally means “not listed in a charter or on a map”.

Source: italki

Italki is a language learning marketplace with its free community of over one million users. It connects students and teachers through private lessons accessible on websites and mobile.

> Analyzes, chronicles, decryptions, interviews, exclusives, English vocabulary, nominations… To explore a number of new ideas and trends, thea Leadership & Management newsletter every Thursday > register