tenir tête

Nous avons tenu tête sans perdre notre calme.
We stood our ground without losing our composure.
Elle tient tête à son patron quand il a tort.
She stands up to her boss when he is wrong.
Les joueurs ont tenu tête aux champions.
The players held their own against the champions.
L’enfant tient tête à ses parents.
The child defies his parents.
Il faut du courage pour tenir tête à cette pression.
It takes courage to stand firm against that pressure.

Similar words

ne pas céder

faire front

s’opposer

résister

Elle tient tête à son patron quand il a tort.
She stands up to her boss when he is wrong.
Les joueurs ont tenu tête aux champions.
The players held their own against the champions.
Il faut du courage pour tenir tête à cette pression.
It takes courage to stand firm against that pressure.
L’enfant tient tête à ses parents.
The child defies his parents.
Nous avons tenu tête sans perdre notre calme.
We stood our ground without losing our composure.

résister

s’opposer

ne pas céder

faire front

Literally “hold head”: tenir means “hold” and tête “head”; the image is keeping one’s head up against an opponent.

What does tenir tête mean?

To stand up to someone or hold one’s ground.

Is the resistance necessarily physical?

No, it is often verbal or moral.

What preposition introduces the opponent?

Usually à, as in tenir tête à quelqu’un.

Does à belong in the headword?

No, it introduces the person or force opposed.

What is the past form?

A tenu tête, using the participle tenu.

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