stand

stand1 [ stænd ] (past tense and past participle stood [ stud ] ) verb ***

▸ 2 move to upright position

▸ 3 put foot on/in something

▸ 4 be in particular position

▸ 5 remain without moving

▸ 6 be in situation/state

▸ 7 be particular height

▸ 8 reach level/amount etc.

▸ 9 remain in existence/use

▸ 10 be willing to accept something

▸ 11 have particular attitude

▸ 12 not be affected by something

▸ 13 when liquid stays still

▸ 14 about mixture

▸ 15 perform job/service

▸ 16 buy something for someone

▸ 17 try to be elected

▸ + PHRASES

be in upright position

1. ) intransitive to have your body in an upright position supported by your feet:

The subway was full and we had to stand all the way to Battery Park.

be in upright position by/at/on/behind etc.: Mrs. Carter was standing by the open window.

The man standing behind him spoke.

stand with your back to someone/something: He was standing with his back to her.

stand doing something: He stood looking at them in silence.

stand and do something: The children stood and watched.

stand still (=not move): They all stood still and listened to the birds singing.

Stand still and let me brush your hair.

2. ) to stand and be unable to move because you are reacting in a particular way to something:

stand motionless/transfixed/open-mouthed etc.: She stood transfixed as the movie star approached her.

3. ) stand on your head/hands to hold your body in an upside down position supported only by your head/hands

2. ) stand or stand up intransitive to move from sitting or bending down into an upright position:

The whole courtroom stood as the judge entered.

3. ) intransitive stand on/in to put your foot on or in something by accident:

He apologized for standing on my foot.

I just stood in something disgusting.

4. ) intransitive if an object or building stands somewhere, it is in a particular position:

His statue stands in the city square.

Their house stood at the top of a hill.

a ) transitive to put an object or a person somewhere in an upright position:

Stand the bookcase against the far wall.

b ) intransitive if something such as a building is standing, it has not been destroyed:

still standing: The ancient family home is still standing.

left standing: Only a few homes were left standing after the earthquake.

c ) intransitive used for talking about the state or condition of a building or object:

The house stood neglected for nearly 100 years.

stand empty/idle: The old factory now stood empty.

Several ships are standing idle in the port as the dock strike continues.

5. ) intransitive if a car, train, airplane, etc. stands somewhere, it remains there without moving, waiting to be used:

Luckily, the train was still standing at the platform.

6. ) intransitive to be in a particular situation or state:

where/how something stands: How do negotiations stand at the moment?

know where you stand (with someone) (=understand your position): He might seem rude, but at least you know where you stand with him.

as it stands/as things stand: As it stands, the law doesn't allow a local court to take such action.

a ) used for talking about someone's attitude:

He stood aloof from the daily operations of the office.

stand ready/prepared: We stand ready to sign any reasonable agreement that you produce.

stand together/united: So long as we all stand together, we'll win.

b ) stand to do something to be in a particular situation or state that makes something likely to happen to you:

Many small companies stand to lose financially if the new law is introduced.

7. ) intransitive to be a particular height:

Their father stands well over six feet.

The structure stands 40 feet high.

8. ) intransitive stand at to reach a particular level, amount, etc.:

The total amount of money raised so far stands at over $100,000.

9. ) intransitive if something such as an offer, a law, or a record stands, it remains in existence or use:

a world record that stood for nearly 20 years

still stands: Tell him my offer still stands.

10. ) transitive usually in negatives or questions to be willing to accept something that someone does:

I can't stand his lies anymore.

I won't stand any more arguing from you.

How can you stand all that noise?

stand someone doing something: I won't stand them interrupting me all the time.

11. ) intransitive to have a particular attitude or view about a person or subject:

where someone stands on something: Where does the senator stand on this issue?

12. ) transitive to be good or strong enough not to be badly affected or damaged by something:

These are plants that do not stand the cold well.

stand the test of time: One wonders how many of these new businesses will stand the test of time.

stand the strain: I didn't think these boots would stand the strain of such a long walk.

13. ) intransitive if a liquid stands, it is still and does not flow:

soil where water stands in the winter

14. ) intransitive if a food, drink, or mixture stands, nothing is done to it so that its flavors can develop and become stronger:

leave/allow something to stand for something: Leave the mixture to stand for 20 minutes.

15. ) transitive to perform a particular job or service:

stand guard (over someone/something): Two men were left standing guard over the prisoners.

stand bail/surety (for someone) (=accept a legal or financial responsibility for someone): No one would stand bail for him.

16. ) transitive INFORMAL OLD-FASHIONED to buy something for someone, especially food or drink:

stand someone something: I'll stand you a cup of coffee if you're out of money.

17. ) intransitive BRITISH to RUN in an election

someone can't stand someone/something

used for saying that a person dislikes someone or something very much:

I can't stand milk.

James just can't stand his mother-in-law.

can't stand the sight of someone/something: Sylvia couldn't stand the sight of blood.

can't stand someone('s) doing something: He couldn't stand anyone feeling sorry for him.

someone can't stand to do something

used for saying that someone dislikes something so much that they cannot allow it to happen:

I can't stand to leave the window open at night.

She couldn't stand to see him leave.

someone could stand something

used for saying that you think that someone should do something because it would be a good thing:

Those kids could stand a few lessons in good manners.

someone could stand to do something: He could stand to lose a bit of weight.

do something standing on your head INFORMAL

to do something very easily and very well:

She could run the whole office standing on her head.

from where someone stands

according to the way someone views or understands a situation:

From where we stand, there can only be one choice.

if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen SPOKEN

used for saying that if someone finds a situation too difficult to deal with, they should stop being involved in it

I stand corrected SPOKEN FORMAL

used for saying that you accept you are wrong about something

it stands to reason (that)

used for saying that something is obvious because it is what most sensible people would expect:

If they don't like you, it stands to reason they won't hire you.

not stand on ceremony

to behave in an informal way in a situation where people might expect you to be formal:

There's no need to stand on ceremony come in and relax.

stand accused of something

to be the person who has been formally accused in a court of law of committing a crime

stand alone

1. ) to not depend on other people or things or be influenced by them:

On this issue, Britain stands alone against the U.S.

2. ) to be in a position or place where there are no other people or things:

The house stood alone on the edge of the village.

stand a chance/hope

to be likely to achieve something:

stand a chance/hope of doing something: Do they stand any chance of winning the championship?

stand someone in good stead

to be useful to someone if a particular situation happens in the future:

The experience will stand him in good stead when he leaves college.

stand in line

to form or join a row of people waiting one behind the other to do something. British usually queue

stand in someone's way/path

to try to stop someone from doing something:

If you want to marry him, we won't stand in your way.

stand in the way of something

to try to prevent something from happening:

You can't stand in the way of progress.

stand on your own (two) feet

to behave in an independent way, especially by not asking for financial help from anyone

stand or fall by/on something

to succeed or fail because of a particular thing:

The hotel industry stands or falls on the standard of its service.

stand pat AMERICAN INFORMAL

to refuse to change an opinion, decision, or intention

stand tall

to behave in a proud and confident way

stand there

to stand in a place for no particular purpose, without doing anything useful:

Don't just stand there give me a hand!

stand to attention

if soldiers stand to attention, they stand very straight in a formal situation

stand trial (for something)

to be judged for a crime in a court of law:

The two men escaped three days before they were due to stand trial for murder.

stand your guns AMERICAN

to refuse to change an opinion, statement, etc. despite opposition or criticism

=> FAST 2, LEG1

,stand a`gainst phrasal verb transitive BRITISH

1. ) stand against someone/something to oppose someone or something, especially in a brave or determined way:

We must stand against the evil forces that are threatening our country.

2. ) stand against someone to take part in an election as a CANDIDATE (=someone who people vote for) to try to defeat another candidate:

He had stood against her in the party elections of 1977.

,stand a`part phrasal verb intransitive

to not involve yourself in something or with someone:

stand apart from: Some seem to be able to stand apart from the drama while others are in tears.

,stand a`round phrasal verb intransitive

to stand somewhere and do nothing, often when you should be doing something:

Don't let the boss see you standing around doing nothing.

,stand a`side phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) to move to one side in order to let someone go past you:

They quickly stood aside to let me pass.

2. ) to let someone else have your job or position

3. ) BRITISH to not involve yourself in a situation, especially one that you should be trying to prevent

,stand `back phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) to move away from something, or stand at a distance from something, especially something dangerous:

stand back from: The children were told to stand back from the fire.

2. ) to not let yourself be influenced by your feelings about a situation so that you can think about it more clearly:

I forced myself to stand back and assess the situation.

3. ) if a building stands back from a road, it is not next to it:

stand back from: The house stands back around twenty yards from the curb.

,stand be`tween phrasal verb transitive

stand between someone and something to prevent someone from gaining or achieving something:

Only one person stood between her and the presidency.

,stand `by phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive often progressive to be ready to do something:

A boat will be standing by in case of an emergency.

2. ) intransitive to not take action when you should:

We can't just stand by and watch her die.

3. ) transitive stand by someone to be loyal to someone who is in a difficult situation:

We knew they would stand by us no matter what we'd done.

4. ) transitive stand by something to continue to believe or support something although a situation has changed:

The doctors are standing by their claim that they are not at fault.

,stand `down phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) to leave the WITNESS STAND in a court of law after you have answered lawyers' questions

2. ) to leave a job or position, especially an important one:

stand down as: She'll be standing down as president at the end of the year.

`stand for phrasal verb transitive stand for something

1. ) if an abbreviation or a symbol stands for something, that is what it means or represents:

The letters ER stand for Emergency Room.

2. ) if someone stands for a particular principle, they believe that principle is important:

I hate them and everything they stand for.

3. ) usually in negatives to be willing to accept something that someone does:

No one makes a fool of me. I won't stand for it!

4. ) BRITISH to take part in an election as a CANDIDATE (=someone who people vote for) for a particular position or institution

,stand `in phrasal verb intransitive

to do someone else's job temporarily while they are not available to do it:

Lorraine was ready to stand in if Helen got sick.

stand in for: I'll be standing in for Peter while he's away.

,stand `out phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) to be easy to see or notice because of being different:

stand out against: His turquoise tie stood out against his black suit.

stand out from: Their old orange car stood out from all the rest.

stand out in a crowd: Her bright clothes always make her stand out in a crowd.

2. ) to be much more impressive or important than others:

stand out as: Germany stands out as the leader in environmental reporting.

stand out in your mind (=be remembered very clearly): It stands out in my mind as the most exciting day of my career.

,stand `out against phrasal verb transitive BRITISH

stand out against something to state or show publicly that you oppose something

,stand `over phrasal verb transitive

stand over someone to watch someone while they are doing something, usually in order to make sure they are doing it correctly:

I'm fed up with him standing over me while I work.

,stand `up phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive to put your body into an upright position from a sitting or lying position:

A man at the back stood up to ask a question.

a ) same as STAND1 2:

You have the chair. I don't mind eating standing up.

stand up straight: Stand up straight and take your hands out of your pockets.

2. ) transitive stand someone up to not come to meet someone you have arranged to meet, especially someone you are having or starting a romantic relationship with:

Did she stand you up?

3. ) intransitive to react in a particular way to severe conditions or treatment:

I wasn't sure how well the house would stand up in a storm.

stand up to: She was confident her witness would stand up to detailed questioning.

4. ) intransitive to still seem true or correct after being examined carefully:

stand up in court: We all knew her story wouldn't stand up in court.

stand up and be counted

to state or show publicly that you support someone or something, especially when something unpleasant or dangerous could happen to you as a result

,stand `up for phrasal verb transitive

stand up for someone/something to defend someone or something that is being criticized or attacked:

You have to stand up for what you believe in.

stand up for yourself: I learned how to stand up for myself early on in life.

stand up for your rights: The only crime they've ever committed is to stand up for their rights.

,stand `up to phrasal verb transitive

stand up to someone to not allow yourself to be treated badly, especially by someone in authority:

Nobody thought he would be brave enough to stand up to her.

stand

stand 2 [ stænd ] noun **

▸ 1 attitude/opinion

▸ 2 attempt to oppose someone/something

▸ 3 table, etc.

▸ 4 for holding/supporting

▸ 5 in court of law

▸ 6 part of sports stadium

1. ) count usually singular an attitude or opinion about something, especially one that you state publicly:

stand on: I couldn't vote for them because of their stand on social issues.

take a stand (on something) (=state your opinion clearly): The president has not taken a stand on this issue.

2. ) count usually singular a determined attempt to oppose someone or something that you consider to be wrong:

stand against: support for their stand against racism

take/make a stand (against someone/something): He must take a firm stand against extremists in his party.

3. ) count a large table or temporary structure used for selling things, especially food or drink:

a hot dog stand

a ) a large table at an exhibit where an organization offers information, goods, or services:

the Porsche stand at the recent New York auto show

4. ) count an object or a piece of furniture used for holding, supporting, or storing something:

an umbrella stand

a cake/mike stand

5. ) singular the part of a court of law where people stand to answer lawyers' questions. British usually witness box

a ) take the stand to go into the stand and start to give evidence

6. ) count often plural a part of a sports STADIUM where people sit or stand to watch a game or event

=> ONE-NIGHT STAND