 | French  | English | |
| – |
 | retenir qn./qc. | 9 to retain sb./sth. | |
| math. retenir qc. | to carry sth. (over) | |
| retenir qc. | to hang on to sth. [coll.] | |
| dr. retenir qc. [argument, plan, proposition] | to accept sth. [agree to] | |
| équi. retenir qc. [cheval] | to rein sth. in | |
| retenir qc. [colère] | to contain sth. [suppress] | |
| retenir qc. [confisquer] | to withhold sth. | |
| retenir qc. [cri, rire, soupir] | to stifle sth. | |
| retenir qc. [date] | to set sth. [date] | |
| retenir qc. [exclamation] | to bite sth. back [fig.] | |
| retenir qc. [lumière] | to absorb sth. [light] | |
| retenir qc. [numéro, nom, date, formule] | to remember sth. [retain] | |
| retenir qc. [objet, attention] | to hold sth. | |
| comm. retenir qc. [réserver] | to book sth. | |
| comm. retenir qc. [réserver] | to reserve sth. | |
| retenir qc. [sourire] | to suppress sth. | |
| retenir qn. | to detain sb. | |
| retenir qn. [empêcher de partir] | to keep sb. [prevent from leaving] | |
| retenir qn. [empêcher une chute] | to stop sb. | |
| retenir qn. [retarder] | to hold sb. up | |
| retenir qn./qc. | to restrain sb./sth. | |
| retenir qn./qc. [cheveux, volet, chien, personne] | to hold sb./sth. back | |
| 2 Words: Verbs |
| dr. retenir qn. prisonnier | to hold sb. captive | |
| mil. retenir qn. prisonnier | to hold sb. prisoner | |
| se retenir | to contain oneself | |
| se retenir | to hang back | |
| se retenir | to hold back | |
| se retenir | to hold on | |
| se retenir | to restrain oneself | |
| 3 Words: Others |
| facile à retenir {adj} | catchy [coll.] [easily remembered] | |
| facile à retenir {adj} | easily remembered | |
| 3 Words: Verbs |
| retenir l'attention de qn. | to hold sb.'s attention | |
| retenir la leçon | to learn the lesson | |
| retenir qn. de faire qc. | to deter sb. from doing sth. | |
| retenir qn. de faire qc. | to discourage sb. from doing sth. | |
| retenir qn. de faire qc. | to inhibit sb. from doing sth. | |
| retenir qn. de faire qc. | to keep sb. from doing sth. [prevent] | |
| retenir qn. de faire qc. | to prevent sb. from doing sth. | |
| retenir qn. de faire qc. | to restrain sb. from doing sth. | |
| retenir qn. de faire qc. | to stop sb. from doing sth. | |
| retenir qn. en otage | to keep sb. hostage | |
| retenir sa langue [fig.] | to hold one's tongue [fig.] | |
| retenir sa respiration | to hold one's breath | |
| retenir ses émotions | to keep one's emotions in | |
| retenir ses larmes | to choke back one's tears | |
| retenir ses larmes | to hold back one's tears | |
| retenir son haleine | to hold one's breath | |
| retenir son souffle | to hold one's breath | |
| retenir un bâillement | to stifle a yawn | |
| retenir une proposition | to accept a suggestion | |
| se retenir à qc. | to hang on to sth. | |
| 4 Words: Verbs |
| éduc. être capable de retenir | to be teachable | |
| éduc. être capable de retenir | to be able to learn | |
| éduc. être capable de retenir | to be capable of learning | |
| retenir qn. par la manche | to catch hold of sb.'s sleeve | |
| se retenir de faire qc. | to refrain from doing sth. | |
| se retenir de faire qc. | to hold back from doing sth. | |
| se retenir de faire qc. | to stop oneself from doing sth. | |
| se retenir de pleurer | to try not to cry | |
| se retenir de rire | to hold back one's laughter | |
| 5+ Words: Others |
| Chose à retenir, c'est que ... | A point to be borne in mind is ... | |
| Chose à retenir, c'est que ... | The thing to remember is that ... | |
| Rien ne peut me retenir ! | There's no holding me (back)! | |
| 5+ Words: Verbs |
| écon. fin. retenir l'impôt à la source | to deduct tax at source | |
| retenir ses larmes en clignant des yeux | to blink back one's tears | |
| fin. occup. retenir un montant sur le salaire | to withhold some money out of wages | |
| se retenir de faire une remarque | to refrain from making a remark | |
