French Phrase
Mets‑toi à l’abri tout de suite.
Meaning
A strong, urgent command telling someone to find shelter immediately. It conveys that there is an imminent danger (storm, fire, etc.) and that delay could be risky.
When to use
Use this phrase in emergency situations such as severe weather alerts, a fire alarm, or any moment when you need someone to protect themselves right away. It is informal (tu) and therefore suited for friends, family, or peers; in a formal context you would say ‘Mettez‑vous à l’abri tout de suite.’
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mets-toiàl'abritoutdesuite
Imperative of mettre (tu)
‘Mets’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb ‘mettre’, used for giving direct commands.
Reflexive pronoun
When the verb is reflexive, the pronoun follows the verb and is attached with a hyphen: ‘mets‑toi’.
à l'abri
A fixed expression meaning ‘to shelter, to get out of danger’. It is used with the verb ‘se mettre’.
tout de suite
An adverbial phrase meaning ‘right away, immediately’. It always stays together and follows the clause.
🗨In Conversation
Mets‑toi à l’abri tout de suite !
Get yourself to safety right away!
D’accord, je vais courir vers le sous‑sol.
Okay, I’ll run to the basement.
✕Common Mistakes
Mettez‑toi à l’abri tout de suite.
‘Mettez‑vous’ is the correct formal form; ‘Mettez‑toi’ mixes formal verb form with informal pronoun.
Mets‑toi à l’abri tout les suite.
The adverb is ‘tout de suite’, not ‘tout les suite’. The ‘de’ never changes.
Mets‑toi à l’abri de tout de suite.
‘à l’abri’ already means ‘in shelter’; adding ‘de’ creates a different construction (e.g., ‘à l’abri de la pluie’ = ‘sheltered from the rain’).
↔Alternatives
Prends immédiatement refuge.
Take refuge immediately.
Abrite‑toi tout de suite.
Shelter yourself right now.
Cache‑toi maintenant.
Hide yourself now.
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking regions, safety warnings often use the imperative ‘à l’abri’ because it is concise and universally understood. Remember that the informal ‘tu’ form can sound harsh in a crisis, so if you’re addressing strangers or elders, switch to the formal ‘Mettez‑vous…’. Also, French emergency alerts (like the siren ‘Alerte météo’) are usually followed by this exact phrasing on radio and TV.