French Phrase
Garde un spray à portée de main.
Meaning
‘Keep a spray within reach.’ The sentence is a practical reminder, often used when talking about hand‑sanitizer, insect repellent, or any spray you might need quickly.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving safety or hygiene advice, packing a bag, or reminding someone to keep a useful item close by. It works well in both informal conversation and written instructions.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Gardeunsprayàportéedemain
Imperative (2nd pers. sing.)
The verb *garder* drops the final -s in the affirmative imperative: *garde* (not *gardes*).
Indefinite article *un*
*un* introduces a singular, masculine noun (*spray*).
Fixed expression *à portée de main*
Literally ‘to the reach of the hand’, it means ‘within easy reach’ and is used as an adverbial phrase.
Preposition *à* + noun phrase
*à* introduces the location phrase; the noun *portée* is followed by the complement *de main*.
🗨In Conversation
Tu as du désinfectant ? J’ai peur d’être sans protection.
Do you have any sanitizer? I'm afraid I'll be left unprotected.
Oui, je garde un spray à portée de main dans mon sac.
Yes, I keep a spray within reach in my bag.
✕Common Mistakes
Gardes un spray à portée de main.
In the affirmative imperative the final -s is dropped; *gardes* is incorrect.
Garde un spray à la portée de main.
The idiom does not use the article *la*; it is simply *à portée de main*.
Garde des sprayes à portée de main.
The noun *spray* is invariable in French; do not add an -s.
↔Alternatives
Garde un vaporisateur à portée de main.
Keep a vaporizer within reach.
Aie un spray à portée de tes mains.
Have a spray within arm's length.
Place un spray à portée de main.
Place a spray within easy reach.
Cultural Tip
The idiom *à portée de main* is very common in French safety instructions, travel guides, and everyday advice. It conveys a sense of preparedness without sounding overly formal. In spoken French, you’ll also hear *à portée de tes mains* or simply *à portée de main* without the article.