ne pas desserrer les dents: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 2.

  FranceinformalMachine
  • to refuse to speak or to keep silent; to keep one's lips sealed

  Examples

  Beta

  • Malgré les questions insistantes des journalistes, le président n’a pas desserré les dents.

    Despite the persistent questions from journalists, the president kept his lips sealed.

  • Je lui ai demandé ce qui s’était passé, mais il n’a pas desserré les dents, gardant tout pour lui.

    I asked him what happened, but he refused to speak, keeping everything to himself.

  • Ils ont essayé de lui soutirer des informations, mais elle ne desserrait pas les dents, fidèle à son secret.

    They tried to get information from her, but she kept silent, faithful to her secret.

• 1.

  FranceneutralMachine
  • not to unclench the teeth; to keep the jaw tightly closed

  Examples

  Beta

  • Pendant la séance de méditation, il ne desserrait pas les dents pour rester concentré.

    During the meditation session, he did not unclench his teeth to remain focused.

  • Marie avait tellement peur qu’elle ne desserrait pas les dents, même pour respirer profondément.

    Marie was so scared that she did not unclench her teeth, not even to breathe deeply.

  • Le boxeur ne desserrait pas les dents, prêt à encaisser le prochain coup sans fléchir.

    The boxer did not unclench his teeth, ready to take the next hit without flinching.

  • On a demandé à Paul de ne pas desserrer les dents pendant que le dentiste travaillait sur sa mâchoire.

    Paul was asked not to unclench his teeth while the dentist worked on his jaw.