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(stringere, reggere) to hold(irregular) [oggetto, persona, animale]; ~ qcs. in mano to hold sth. in one’s hand; ~ qcn. per mano to hold sb.’s hand; ~ qcn. per to hold sb. by [manica, braccio]; ~ qcs. per to hold sth. by [manico, impugnatura]; puoi tenermi la borsa? can you hold my bag for me? tienimi la scala! keep o hold the ladder steady (for me)!
(mantenere) to keep(irregular) to [traiettoria];
to keep(irregular) [segreto]; mus. to hold(irregular) [nota]; mus. to keep(irregular) [ritmo, tempo]; ~ le mani in alto to hold one’s hands up (in the air); ~ gli occhi aperti, bassi to keep one’s eyes open, lowered; ~ qcn. occupato to keep sb. busy; ~ qcn. prigioniero to hold sb. prisoner; ~ qcs. segreto to keep sth. secret
(conservare) to keep(irregular); ~ i cibi al fresco to keep food in a cool place; ha tenuto tutte le tue lettere he kept all of your letters; dove tieni il vino? where do you keep your wine? ~ bene, male i libri to keep one’s books well, badly, to keep one’s books in good, bad condition; mi hai tenuto il giornale di ieri? did you keep o save yesterday’s newspaper for me?
(badare a) mi tieni il gatto mentre sono via? can you take care of my cat while I’m away?
(prendere per sé) to keep(irregular); tienilo per ricordo keep it as a memento; queste osservazioni tienile per te keep these remarks to yourself; tieni! è per te here (you are)! it’s for you
comm. (trattare, vendere) to carry [articolo, prodotto]
(trattenere) to hold(irregular) back, to control, to restrain [lacrime]
(seguire) ~ la sinistra, la destra to keep (to the) left, right; ~ la rotta to hold o steer the route; ~ la strada aut. to hold the road
(contenere) to hold(irregular); la sala tiene 300 persone the room holds 300 people; quanto tiene il serbatoio? what does the tank hold?
(occupare) [oggetto] to take(irregular) up [spazio, posto]; mil. to hold(irregular) [territorio, ponte, città]
(gestire) to keep(irregular) [bar, boutique, casa, contabilità]; (avere) to keep(irregular) [cane, gatto, diario]
(effettuare) to hold(irregular) [incontro, corso, lezioni, assemblea];
to give(irregular) [discorso, conferenza]
(avere un comportamento) ~ una condotta discutibile to behave questionably
(alle proprie dipendenze) to keep(irregular) [baby-sitter, cuoco]
intr. (aus. avere)
(reggere) [chiodo, corda, mensola] to hold(irregular);
[colla, cerotto] to hold(irregular), to stick(irregular)
(durare) [tempo] to hold(irregular);
[matrimonio] to last, to hold(irregular) together
(tifare) per che squadra tieni? what’s your team? what team do you root for o support? ~ per to be a supporter of, to support
(dare molta importanza) ~ a to care for o about [persona];
to be fond of [oggetto];
to value [libertà, reputazione, indipendenza, vita]; tengo molto a lui I care a lot about him
tenerci (volere fortemente) ci tengo molto it’s really important for me; se ci tenete if you like; ci tengo a mantenermi in forma I like to keep fit; ci tengo ad avervi a cena you really must come to dinner; mia moglie vuole andarci, ma io non ci tengo my wife wants to go but I’m not keen on it
tenersi pronom.
(reggersi) [persona] to hold(irregular) [testa, pancia, braccio]; -rsi la testa tra le mani to hold one’s head in one’s hands; -rsi per mano to hold hands; -rsi a braccetto to be arm in arm; -rsi in piedi to stand (on one’s feet)
(aggrapparsi) to hold(irregular) on, to cling(irregular) on (a onto, to); tenetevi (forte) hold on (tight)
(mantenersi) -rsi lontano da to keep away from; -rsi sulla destra to keep (to the) right
(prendere per sé) -rsi qcs. to keep sth.; tientelo per te keep it for yourself
(trattenersi) -rsi dal fare to hold back from doing, to keep oneself from doing
(avere luogo) [manifestazione, riunione] to be(irregular) held, to take(irregular) place
locuzioni idiomatiche non c’è scusa che tenga there can be no possible excuse.
(nato da poco) [gemma, erba, germoglio] tender; (giovane) in -a età in (one’s) infancy; alla -a età di due anni at the tender age of two
(pallido) [rosa, verde] soft
(affettuoso) [persona, abbraccio] fond;
[bacio, amore, sorriso, parole] tender;
[ricordo, gesto] fond, affectionate;
[cuore] soft, bleeding; avere il cuore ~ to be soft-hearted o tenderhearted; essere ~ con qcn., qcs. (indulgente) to be soft on sb., sth.; non essere ~ con qcn., qcs. to be hard on sb., sth.; i critici non sono stati -i con lui critics were not kind to him
m.
(parte tenera) mangiare il ~ to eat the tender part
(sentimento) tra loro c’è del ~ they feel something for each other, they’re romantically involved.