tenir en haleine

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tə.ni.ʁ‿ɑ̃.n‿a.lɛn/

• Audio:

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• Audio (Canada):

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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.