Il ne tint à rien qu’ils ne se battissent = They were within an ace of fighting.
Quand on est bien, on ne s’y peut tenir = The love of change makes us give up even a comfortable position.
Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l’auras = A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
[Also: Un bon aujourd’hui vaut mieux que deux demain.]
Il tient de son père = He takes after his father.
Il tient à ce livre = He treasures that book.
Je ne tiens plus à rien = I no longer care for anything.
Il ne tiendra pas à moi qu’il ne réussisse = It will not be my fault if he does not succeed.
Je le tiens de bonne source = I have it on good authority.
Tenir le loup par les oreilles = To be in a critical situation, dilemma.