French Expressions with Tenir - Lawless French Phrases

Keeping French Phrases


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The French verb tenir, “to hold” or "to keep," is found in many idiomatic expressions, including to cherish, to stand firm, and to have a crush on. Learn these and dozens of other French expressions featuring tenir.

Tenir translations

to fulfill
to grasp
to handle
to have under control
to hold
to keep
to manage
to stem from
to value

Tenir expressions

tenir à		to cherish, value, be attached to to be do to, stem from
tenir à + infinitive		to be anxious to
tenir à ce que + subjunctive		to be anxious that
tenir à l’oeil		to keep an eye on
tenir au courant		to keep someone posted
tenir bon		to hold one’s ground
tenir chaud		to keep warm
tenir compagnie à quelqu’un		to keep someone company
tenir compte de		to keep in mind, to take into account
tenir conseil		to hold a meeting, deliberate
tenir de		to take after, to come from
tenir de bonne source		to have on good authority
tenir de quelqu’un		to take after someone
tenir debout	(figurative)	to hold water, make sense
tenir en haleine		to hold someone spellbound, in suspense
tenir en place		to hold still
tenir ferme		to stand firm, hold out
tenir l’alcool	(informal)	to be able to hold one’s liquor
tenir la chandelle		to be a third wheel, play gooseberry
tenir la dragée haute à qqun		to hold out on someone
tenir la jambe à qqun	(informal)	to bend someone’s ear
tenir la route	(vehicle)	to hold the road
	(informal)	to be well-made, to hold water, be viable
tenir le bon bout	(informal)	to be on the right track, be past the worst
tenir le choc	(informal)	to hack it, be able to handle it
tenir le coup		to hold out, to make it through
tenir le haut du pavé		to be the leader, on top
tenir les rênes		to be in power
tenir lieu de		to take the place of, substitute for
tenir pour		to consider/regard someone/something as
tenir rigueur à quelqu’un de ne pas		to hold it against someone for not
tenir sa langue		to hold one’s tongue
tenir sa promesse		to keep one’s promise
tenir tête à		to stand up to
tenir une conversation		to have a conversation
en tenir pour quelqu’un		to fancy/have a crush on someone

Ça ne tient qu’à		It depends on / is up to
Je ne tiens plus debout		I’m ready to drop
Il tient que		It depends on
Qu’à cela ne tienne !		No problem!
Tenez votre gauche/droite		Keep to the left/right
Tiens !		Hey there! or Take this.
Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l’auras.		A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

se tenir	(reflexive)	to hold oneself in a certain position
	(reciprocal)	to hold each other
se tenir à (quelque chose)		to hold onto (something)
se tenir à carreau	(informal)	to watch one’s step, keep one’s nose clean
se tenir au courant de quelque chose		to keep informed about something
se tenir bien		to behave
se tenir les côtes		to split one’s sides laughing
se tenir mal		to misbehave
s’en tenir à		to limit / confine oneself to