hold on

attendre, patienter

Patienter pendant un court moment.

En anglais simple : To wait for a short time.

• Hold on a moment, please.
• Can you hold on while I get my bag?
• I held on for a minute, but nobody answered.

Comment l'utiliser : hold on while … (Hold on while I find your number.)

Synonymes : wait, hang on

Expressions courantes : hold on please, hold on a moment

s’accrocher, se tenir

Tenir fermement quelque chose pour ne pas tomber ou le laisser échapper.

En anglais simple : To keep a firm grip on something so you do not fall or lose it.

• Hold on tightly to the rope.
• She held on to my hand as we crossed.
• Can you hold on while I pull you up?

Comment l'utiliser : hold on to someone/something (Hold on to the rail as you climb.)

Synonymes : grip, cling

Contraires : let go

Expressions courantes : hold on tightly, hold on to something

tenir bon, résister

Continuer malgré les difficultés, la douleur ou le risque d’échec.

En anglais simple : To continue despite problems, pain, or the risk of failure.

• Hold on; help is coming.
• The little shop held on through years of poor sales.
• How much longer can they hold on without food?

Synonymes : persist, hang on, keep going

Contraires : give up

Expressions courantes : hold on longer, hold on bravely

garder, conserver

Garder quelque chose en sécurité, souvent pour quelqu’un qui viendra le chercher plus tard.

En anglais simple : To keep something safe, often for someone who will collect it later.

• Hold on to my coat for me.
• She held on to our tickets until we arrived.
• I will hold on to your keys while you swim.

Comment l'utiliser : hold on to something for someone (Can you hold on to this bag for me?)

Synonymes : keep, look after

Expressions courantes : hold on to something, hold on to tickets

conserver, garder

Garder un avantage, une position forte ou une ressource utile sans la perdre ni l’utiliser.

En anglais simple : To keep an advantage, a strong position, or something useful rather than lose or use it.

• They held on to their lead.
• She is holding on to her best cards until the final round.
• Can the champion hold on to his title?

Comment l'utiliser : hold on to something (The team held on to its narrow lead.)

Synonymes : retain, keep

Contraires : lose

Expressions courantes : hold on to something, hold on to power

rester fidèle

Continuer à soutenir quelqu’un ou quelque chose même quand les autres cessent de le faire.

En anglais simple : To continue supporting someone or something even when other people stop.

• Other fans left, but he held on.
• She held on to her faith in the team through years of defeat.
• They still hold on to the cause they supported as students.

Comment l'utiliser : hold on to something (She held on to her faith in the movement.)

Synonymes : stay loyal, remain faithful

Contraires : abandon

Expressions courantes : hold on faithfully, hold on to something