hold

tenir

Garder quelque chose dans la main ou dans les bras.

En anglais simple : To keep something in your hand or arms.

• Hold my hand.
• She held the baby in her arms.
• He was holding a cup of tea.

Synonymes : grip, grasp

Contraires : release, drop

Expressions courantes : hold a pen, hold someone’s hand, hold a baby, hold a pencil

maintenir, retenir

Garder quelqu’un ou quelque chose en place, en empêchant tout mouvement ou toute fuite.

En anglais simple : To keep someone or something in a place and prevent movement or escape.

• Hold the ladder steady.
• A heavy stone held the door open.
• Police held him at the station overnight.

Comment l'utiliser : hold someone/something + adjective (Hold the camera steady.); hold someone/something in place (These clips hold the sheet in place.)

Synonymes : keep, secure, restrain

Contraires : release

Expressions courantes : hold something still, hold in place, hold someone back

tenir pour responsable

Considérer quelqu’un comme responsable de quelque chose et attendre qu’il en réponde.

En anglais simple : To consider someone responsible for something and expect them to answer for it.

• They hold him responsible for the mistake.
• Managers must be held accountable for their decisions.
• Can the company be held liable for these injuries?

Comment l'utiliser : hold someone responsible/accountable/liable for something (We hold the driver responsible for the damage.)

Synonymes : blame

Expressions courantes : hold someone responsible, hold someone accountable, hold someone liable

détenir, retenir

Garder quelqu’un dans un lieu et refuser de le laisser partir.

En anglais simple : To keep someone somewhere and refuse to let them leave.

• They held him prisoner for a week.
• Two workers are being held hostage.
• The soldiers held their captives in an empty house.

Comment l'utiliser : hold someone hostage/prisoner/captive (The gunmen held three people hostage.)

Synonymes : detain, imprison, confine

Contraires : release, free

Expressions courantes : hold someone hostage, hold someone prisoner, hold someone captive

rester valable, être vrai

Être vrai ou rester applicable dans une situation.

En anglais simple : To be true or continue to apply in a situation.

• The rule still holds true.
• Does this theory hold for all cases?
• Their earlier promise no longer holds good.

Comment l'utiliser : hold true/good for someone/something (This rule holds true for most children.); hold for something (The same principle holds for larger groups.)

Synonymes : apply, remain valid

Expressions courantes : hold true, hold good, hold for something

prise

Façon de tenir fermement quelque chose dans la main ou les bras.

En anglais simple : The way you keep something firmly in your hand or arms.

• Keep a tight hold on the rope.
• He lost his hold and fell.
• She got hold of the handle with both hands.

Comment l'utiliser : a hold on someone/something (Keep a firm hold on the rope.); get/take hold of someone/something (She took hold of my arm.)

Synonymes : grip, grasp

Expressions courantes : firm hold, tight hold, hold on something

portage

Action ou court moment où l’on porte quelqu’un ou quelque chose dans les bras ou les mains.

En anglais simple : An act or short period of carrying something or someone in your arms or hands.

• Can I have a hold of the baby?
• She offered me a hold of her puppy.
• He had a quick hold of his newborn daughter.

Comment l'utiliser : have a hold of someone/something (Can I have a hold of the baby?)

Expressions courantes : have a hold, hold of someone