ménager

to spare, go easy on, to take it easy, look after oneself

m e . n a . ʒ e
ménag household + er Infinitive
verb Rare #32,757
to spare, go easy on
FR: Tu peux ménager tes forces pour demain.
EN: You can save your strength for tomorrow.
to take it easy, look after oneself Used reflexively: se ménager.
FR: Elle doit se ménager après sa maladie.
EN: She needs to take it easy after her illness.
Conjugation of ménager
ménager
Indicative present
SingularPlural
First ménage —
Third ménage —
Subjunctive present
SingularPlural
First ménage —
Third ménage —
Imperative
SingularPlural
Second ménage —

À ménager, certes.

One to treat with care, certainly.

— Army of Shadows (1969)

Je voudrais préserver son image et ménager Daniel.

I would like to preserve his image and be considerate of Daniel.

— Anatomie d'une chute (2023)

Tu dois te ménager.

You have to take care of yourself.

Pas la peine de ménager notre foi ou que sais-je.

There's no need to compromise our faith or anything like that.

— Wake Up Dead Man : Une histoire à couteaux tirés (2025)

Tu as voulu me ménager ?

Did you want to spare my feelings?

— Salyut-7 (2017)

Tu sais bien qu'il faut la ménager.

You know very well that you need to take it easy on her.

— Les Quatre Cents Coups (1959)

C'est plus le moment de se ménager.

Now is not the time to take it easy.

— Guerre et Paix (1968)

En combattant la corruption au lieu de ménager le diable.

By fighting corruption instead of making a deal with the devil.

— The Dark Knight : Le Chevalier noir (2008)

Mais à ménager avec prudence.

But it should be used with caution.

— Army of Shadows (1969)

À ménager.

Handle with care.

— Army of Shadows (1969)

Inutile de me ménager.

No need to go easy on me.

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