French Phrase
Tiens-toi à la rampe.
Meaning
A direct, informal command telling someone to hold onto the railing. It is used to keep a person safe, especially on stairs, escalators, or any place where a handrail is present.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to give a quick safety instruction in a casual setting – for example, on a moving bus, an escalator, a museum staircase, or while guiding a child on a playground.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tiens-toiàlarampe.
Imperative of tenir
The verb *tenir* (to hold) forms its affirmative imperative by dropping the final *-s* in the second‑person singular: *tiens*.
Reflexive pronoun placement
In the affirmative imperative, reflexive pronouns are attached to the verb with a hyphen and follow the order *toi, nous, vous*.
Preposition à + noun
The preposition *à* introduces the object you should hold onto; here it links the verb to the noun *rampe*.
Gender & article
*Rampe* is a feminine noun, so it takes the definite article *la*.
🗨In Conversation
Le sol est très glissant ici.
The floor is very slippery here.
Tiens‑toi à la rampe, s’il te plaît.
Hold onto the railing, please.
✕Common Mistakes
Tenir à la rampe.
The reflexive pronoun is required; without it the sentence means ‘to be attached to the railing’ rather than a command.
Tiens vous à la rampe.
Mixing the informal verb form *tiens* with the formal pronoun *vous* is incorrect. Use *Tiens‑toi* (informal) or *Tenez‑vous* (formal).
Tiens‑toi sur la rampe.
The preposition *sur* means ‘on top of’; the correct preposition for holding onto something is *à*.
↔Alternatives
Accroche‑toi à la rampe.
Hang onto the railing.
Saisis la rampe.
Grab the railing.
Tiens‑toi bien à la rampe.
Hold tightly to the railing.
Cultural Tip
In French, safety instructions are often given in the informal imperative *Tiens‑toi* when speaking to a peer or a child, and in the formal *Tenez‑vous* when addressing strangers or adults. The word *rampe* can refer to a handrail on stairs, an escalator, or even a safety bar on a boat, so the phrase works in many everyday contexts.