How do you say “Stick to your guns” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is ne pas en démordre, which literally means “not to let go of it with the teeth”. English speakers use stick to your guns to mean to keep your position despite pressure to change it. A French idiom for refusing to change a view. It can sound stubborn rather than admiring. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural French
ne pas en démordre
/nə pa ɑ̃ demɔʁdʁ/
- Literal meaning
- “not to let go of it with the teeth”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
90 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
French replaces the defended guns with a grip that will not loosen. “Elle n’en démord pas” means she will not change her position.
The “en” refers back to the idea already mentioned. State that idea first so the listener knows what she refuses to give up.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
They offered less, but I stuck to my guns on the price.
French
Ils ont proposé moins, mais je n'ai pas démordu du prix demandé.
English
Despite the complaints, she stuck to her guns about keeping the park open.
French
Malgré les plaintes, elle n'en a pas démordu : le parc devait rester ouvert.
Related expressions
- What “Stick to your guns” means in English
- Put your foot down, Set a firm limit or insist on a decision.
Last updated 2026-10-01