Polaris
What do these mean here? 1. Does 'ranged against' here mean 'working against' ? Shore-based anti-ship missiles, fast missile boats, midget subs and conventionally-armed ballistic missiles that threaten its enemies’ air bases, refineries and oil terminals are intended to be a deterrent against the more powerful forces Iran sees ranged against it. 2. Does 'make a great deal of trouble' mean 'to get maximum gain' or something ? Iran will take decades not years to rebuild its atrophied conventional military capabilities.It knows how to make a great deal of trouble when it wants to, but a potentially dominant military power it is not. Thanks http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21651279-should-russia-and-china-expect-arms-bonanza-iran-after-nuclear-deal
May 22, 2015 4:33 PM
Answers · 4
Im from china
May 22, 2015
To make trouble = to be annoying. When you "make trouble" you're causing difficulties and problems for your adversary, but you know that your adversary can surmount them.
May 22, 2015
ranged against -> united against (.. countries ranged against the US.) make a great deal of trouble -> make a large amount of trouble
May 22, 2015
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!