French Expression · Intermediate
Prendre sur soi
To keep it together / To endure / To bear up
Pronunciation: prahn-druh sur SWAH
Meaning
To control one's emotions or reactions in a difficult situation, to endure a hardship without complaining.
Example
Même s'il était très en colère, il a pris sur lui pour rester calme pendant la réunion.
Even though he was very angry, he kept it together to stay calm during the meeting.
Practice tips
- Practice Prendre sur soi out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this French expression is for intermediate-level learners.