tenere

1. [te'nere]

vb irreg vt

1) (reggere: in mano) to hold, (in posizione) to hold, keep, (in una condizione) to keep

tieni! — here!

tieni, usa il mio — here, use mine

tieni, questo è per te — here, this is for you

non mi serve, puoi tenerlo — I don't need it, you can keep it

tenere qn per mano — to hold sb by the hand

tenere in braccio un bambino — to hold a baby

tenere una pentola per il manico — to hold a pan by the handle

tiene la racchetta con la sinistra — he holds the racket with his left hand

tieni la porta aperta — hold the door open

tengono sempre la porta aperta — they always keep their door open

tiene sempre la camicia sbottonata — he always has his shirt unbuttoned

tenere le mani in tasca — to keep one's hands in one's pockets

tieni gli occhi chiusi — keep your eyes shut o closed

un cappotto che tiene caldo — a warm coat

tiene la casa molto bene — her house is always tidy

tenere presente qc — to bear sth in mind

tenere la rotta Naut — to keep o stay on course

il nemico teneva la città — the enemy had the city under its control o held the city

tenere la destra/la sinistra Auto — to keep to the right/the left

2) (dare: conferenza, lezione) to give, (organizzare: riunione, assemblea) to hold

3) (occupare: spazio) to take up, occupy

tenere il posto a qn — to keep sb's seat

mi tieni il posto? torno subito — will you keep my seat for me? I'll be right back

4) (contenere: sogg: recipiente) to hold

5)

(resistere a) tenere il mare Naut — to be seaworthy

tenere la strada Auto — to hold the road

6)

(considerare) tenere conto di qn/qc — to take sb/sth into account o consideration

tenere in gran conto o considerazione qn — to have a high regard for sb, think highly of sb

2. vi (aus avere)

1) (resistere) to hold out, last, (chiusura, nodo) to hold

tiene quella scatola? — is that box strong enough?

questa vite non tiene — this screw is loose

non ci sono scuse che tengano — I'll take no excuses

tenere duro — (resistere) to stand firm, hold out

2)

(parteggiare) tenere per qn/qc — to support sb/sth

io tengo per lui — I am on his side

3)

tenere a — (reputazione, persona, vestiario) to attach great importance to

tiene molto all'educazione — he is a great believer in education

4)

(dare importanza) tenere a, tenerci a — to care about, attach great importance to

tenere a fare — to want to do, be keen to do

ci tengo ad ottenere la presidenza — it's important for me to become chairman

ci tenevo ad andare — I was keen on going, I was keen to go

ci tiene che lo sappia — he wants him to know

non ci tengo — I don't care about it, it's not that important to me

se ci tieni proprio! — if you really want!

3. vr (tenersi)

1) (reggersi)

tenersi a qn/qc — to hold onto sb/sth

tieniti al corrimano — hold onto the rail

tieniti forte! — hold on tight!

tenersi per mano — (uso reciproco) to hold hands

si tenevano per mano — they were holding hands

tenersi in piedi — to stay on one's feet

non si teneva più dal ridere fig — he couldn't help laughing, he couldn't keep from laughing

2) (mantenersi) to keep, be

tenersi pronto (a fare qc) — to be ready (to do sth)

tieniti pronta per le cinque — be ready by five

tenersi vicino al/lontano dal muro — to keep close to/away from the wall

tenersi sulla corsia di destra — to stay in the right-hand lane

tenersi a destra/sinistra — to keep right/left

3) (attenersi)

tenersi a — to comply with, stick to