Em 15 segundos
- To endure a difficult or exhausting situation without giving up.
- Commonly used to encourage friends or check on their wellbeing.
- Translates roughly to 'hanging in there' or 'holding up'.
Significado
It means to hang in there or stay strong when things get tough. It is about not giving up when you are tired, stressed, or facing a challenge.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6Encouraging a friend during finals week
Allez, encore deux jours d'examens, tu tiens le coup !
Come on, two more days of exams, you're hanging in there!
Checking on a colleague after a long meeting
C'était intense cette réunion, tu tiens le coup ?
That meeting was intense, are you holding up okay?
Texting a partner who is working late
Je sais que c'est dur en ce moment. Tiens le coup, je t'aime.
I know it's hard right now. Hang in there, I love you.
Contexto cultural
During the 'grèves' (strikes), you will often see this phrase in news headlines to describe how the economy or the transport system is resisting the disruption. In Quebec, while 'tenir le coup' is understood, you might hear 'toffer' (from English 'tough') in very informal settings. The phrase is often used with a sense of fatalism and strength, reflecting the 'débrouillardise' (resourcefulness) needed in daily life. Used similarly to France, but often heard in professional contexts regarding the 'résistance' of a project or a budget.
Use it for objects!
Don't forget you can use this for your old laptop or a bridge. It makes your French sound very natural.
Silent P
Never pronounce the 'p' in 'coup'. It's a classic mistake that marks you as a beginner.
Em 15 segundos
- To endure a difficult or exhausting situation without giving up.
- Commonly used to encourage friends or check on their wellbeing.
- Translates roughly to 'hanging in there' or 'holding up'.
What It Means
Think of this as your emotional anchor. It literally translates to "holding the blow" or "holding the hit." It is about resilience. When life throws a punch, you stay standing. You are not just surviving. You are refusing to crack under pressure. It is the French way of saying "hang in there."
How To Use It
You use it like a regular verb. Conjugate tenir based on who is doing the holding. You can use it as a question to check on friends. Tu tiens le coup ? is a common way to ask "Are you holding up okay?" It works for physical exhaustion or emotional stress. It is very versatile.
When To Use It
Use it during a long work week. Use it when a friend is going through a breakup. It is perfect for a marathon runner at kilometer thirty. It fits well in a text message to a stressed colleague. Use it when you want to show someone you see their struggle. It is a warm, supportive phrase.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for tiny inconveniences. If you run out of milk, you do not need to tenir le coup. Avoid it in very stiff, legal environments. It is a bit too personal for a formal contract. Do not use it if someone has already failed. It is about the process of enduring, not the aftermath.
Cultural Background
French culture values a certain type of quiet stoicism. There is a sense of pride in "holding one's rank" or position. This phrase reflects that grit. It became very popular in military contexts originally. Now, it is the go-to for modern burnout culture. It shows you acknowledge that life is hard right now.
Common Variations
You might hear tiens bon which means "hold fast." Another one is ne lâche rien which is more aggressive, like "don't give an inch." If you want to be slangy, you could say assurer. But tenir le coup remains the classic choice for empathy. It is the gold standard for encouragement.
Notas de uso
It is a neutral phrase suitable for almost any context. It requires the verb 'tenir' to be conjugated. It is particularly effective for showing empathy without being overly formal.
Use it for objects!
Don't forget you can use this for your old laptop or a bridge. It makes your French sound very natural.
Silent P
Never pronounce the 'p' in 'coup'. It's a classic mistake that marks you as a beginner.
The 'On' factor
In France, people rarely say 'Nous tenons le coup'. They almost always say 'On tient le coup'.
Exemplos
6Allez, encore deux jours d'examens, tu tiens le coup !
Come on, two more days of exams, you're hanging in there!
Used here to provide a boost of energy.
C'était intense cette réunion, tu tiens le coup ?
That meeting was intense, are you holding up okay?
A polite way to acknowledge shared stress.
Je sais que c'est dur en ce moment. Tiens le coup, je t'aime.
I know it's hard right now. Hang in there, I love you.
Very supportive and intimate.
Ma vieille voiture tient encore le coup malgré son âge.
My old car is still holding up despite its age.
Can be used for objects that are surprisingly durable.
Il est 4h du matin et Mamie tient toujours le coup !
It's 4 AM and Grandma is still going strong!
Used jokingly to describe someone's unexpected stamina.
Il est important de tenir le coup pendant le traitement.
It is important to stay strong during the treatment.
Serious and encouraging in a medical context.
Teste-se
Conjugate the verb 'tenir' in the present tense.
Nous sommes fatigués, mais nous _______ le coup.
The subject is 'nous', so the present tense of 'tenir' is 'tenons'.
Which sentence is correct for a past event?
Hier, l'équipe a eu un problème, mais elle...
The passé composé of 'tenir' uses 'avoir' and the past participle 'tenu' (no agreement here).
Match the situation to the correct use of the phrase.
Your friend is crying because of a breakup. What do you say?
The first option is a common way to offer emotional support.
Complete the dialogue.
A: J'ai peur que mon vieux téléphone s'éteigne. B: Ne t'inquiète pas, il va ________ jusqu'à ce soir.
We are talking about an object (phone) lasting/enduring until the evening.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosNous sommes fatigués, mais nous _______ le coup.
The subject is 'nous', so the present tense of 'tenir' is 'tenons'.
Hier, l'équipe a eu un problème, mais elle...
The passé composé of 'tenir' uses 'avoir' and the past participle 'tenu' (no agreement here).
Your friend is crying because of a breakup. What do you say?
The first option is a common way to offer emotional support.
A: J'ai peur que mon vieux téléphone s'éteigne. B: Ne t'inquiète pas, il va ________ jusqu'à ce soir.
We are talking about an object (phone) lasting/enduring until the evening.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasIt is neutral. You can use it in a professional email or with friends. It's not slang, but it's not 'high literature' either.
No, the idiom is fixed in the singular. 'Tenir les coups' would be interpreted literally as 'holding the hits'.
'Supporter' is more about the act of bearing a weight or a person. 'Tenir le coup' is about the success of not collapsing.
You can say 'Je ne tiens plus le coup' or more commonly 'Je n'en peux plus'.
Not really. It implies there is a difficulty or pressure you are resisting.
Yes, it's perfectly understood and used in Quebec, though they have their own local variations too.
The present ('je tiens') and the passé composé ('j'ai tenu') are the most frequent.
Only if they are in a situation that tests that strength. It's about the action of resisting, not a permanent trait.
No, 'cup' is 'tasse'. 'Coup' means hit, blow, or stroke.
Yes, 'assurer' or 'gérer' can be used in similar contexts to mean someone is handling a tough situation well.
Frases relacionadas
tenir bon
synonymTo hold fast / stay firm
ne pas lâcher
similarDon't let go / don't quit
encaisser
builds onTo take a blow / to pocket
baisser les bras
contrastTo give up / lower one's arms
