tenir en haleine

French

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /tə.ni.ʁ‿ɑ̃.n‿a.lɛn/
  • Audio(file)
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Verb

tenir en haleine

  1. (transitive, figurative) to keep someone on their toes; to keep someone in bated breath, to keep someone in a state of uncertainty, be it hopeful or fearful
    • 2017, TVA Nouvelles, Une pyromane de 68 ans recherchée dans Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, TVA Nouvelles:
      [Une pyromane a] tenu les policiers et pompiers en haleine en fin de soirée... en mettant le feu à plusieurs poubelles.
      A pyromaniac kept police and firefighters on their toes last night... by setting fire to several trash cans.
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