French Idioms and Proverbs / A Companion to Deshumbert's "Dictionary of Difficulties"

by de V. Payen-Payne

On le tient à quatre = It needs four men to hold him down.

Je me suis tenu à quatre pour ne pas lui dire ses vérités = It was almost more than I could do not to tell him what I thought of him.

Il n’y a pas d’amitié qui tienne = Friendship has nothing to do with the question; It must be done in spite of friendship.

Qu’à cela ne tienne = Do not let that be any objection; Never mind that.

Je n’y tiens pas = I am not particular about it; I am not keen on it.

Je n’y tiens plus = I cannot stand it any longer.

Je n’y ai pas tenu = I could not contain myself.

Je ne sais à quoi m’en tenir = I do not know what to believe.

Tenir comme teigne (pop.) = To stick like wax.