French Phrase
Tiens bien ton sac.
Meaning
‘Tiens bien ton sac.’ is a short, direct way to tell someone to hold their bag securely, usually because the environment is crowded or the bag could be at risk of being dropped or stolen.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to remind a friend, a child, or a fellow traveler to keep a firm grip on their bag – for example on a busy metro, in a market, or while walking on a bumpy bus.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tiensbientonsac
Tiens (imperative)
‘Tiens’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb *tenir* (to hold). It is used when speaking informally to one person.
bien (adverb)
‘Bien’ means ‘well’ or ‘tightly’ and normally follows the verb in an imperative construction.
ton (possessive adjective)
‘Ton’ is the masculine singular possessive adjective meaning ‘your’. It agrees with the noun that follows.
sac (noun)
‘Sac’ is a masculine noun meaning ‘bag’ or ‘sack’. No article is needed after a possessive adjective.
🗨In Conversation
Tiens bien ton sac.
Hold your bag tightly.
Merci, je ne veux pas le perdre.
Thanks, I don’t want to lose it.
✕Common Mistakes
Tiens ton sac bien.
In an imperative, the adverb ‘bien’ normally comes right after the verb, before the object.
Tenez bien ton sac.
‘Tenez’ is the formal/plural imperative; it should be paired with the plural possessive ‘votre’ (e.g., ‘Tenez bien votre sac’).
↔Alternatives
Garde bien ton sac.
Keep your bag safe.
Ne lâche pas ton sac.
Don’t let go of your bag.
Assure-toi que ton sac reste bien tenu.
Make sure your bag stays well‑held.
Cultural Tip
In French cities, especially Paris, pickpocketing is a common concern in crowded places like metros and tourist sites. Using a firm‑sounding imperative such as ‘Tiens bien ton sac’ is perfectly acceptable among friends, but in a formal setting you might soften it with ‘S’il vous plaît, tenez bien votre sac.’