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stand up

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stand someone up

 

1. to place someone into a standing position. I tried to stand him up, but he was just too tired. Let's try to stand up Timmy and get him awake.

2. to fail to show up for a meeting or a date. He stood her up once too often, so she broke up with him. Tom stood up Mary once, and she never forgave him.

See also: stand, up

stand up

 

1. to arise from a sitting or reclining position. He stood up and looked across the valley. she had been sitting for so long that it was a pleasure to stand up.

2. to be in a standing position. I've been standing up all day and I'm exhausted. I stood up throughout the whole trip because there were no more seats on the train.

3. to wear well; to remain sound and intact. This material just doesn't stand up well when it's washed. Her work doesn't stand up under close scrutiny.

4. [for an assertion] to remain believable. His testimony will not stand up in court. When the police checked the story, it did not stand up.

See also: stand, up

stand up

to prove to be true or correct The way this contract is written now, it wouldn't stand up in court. Detectives checked his alibi and it stood up, so they let him go.

See also: stand, up

stand somebody up

also stand up somebody

to fail to meet someone you had arranged to see Chuck and I had a date for dinner and he stood me up. The mayor stood up the visitors because of an emergency city council meeting.

See also: stand, up

stand up

1. Remain valid, sound, or durable, as in His claim will not stand up in court, or Our old car stood up well over time. [Mid-1900s]

2. Fail to keep a date or appointment with, as in Al stood her up twice in the past week, and that will be the end of their relationship. [Colloquial; c. 1900] Also see stand up for; stand up to; stand up with.

See also: stand, up

stand up

v.

1. To rise to an upright position on the feet: When the judge entered the room, everyone stood up.

2. To cause something or someone to assume an upright position: I stood up the book on its end. The police tried to stand the drunken drivers up on their feet.

3. To remain valid, sound, or durable: The claim will not stand up in court. Our old car has stood up well over time.

4. To fail to keep a date or appointment with someone: My roommate stood up the prospective students who had wanted to tour the campus. My blind date stood me up, so I had to eat alone.

5. stand up for To defend or support someone or something: If you do not stand up for yourself, people will not respect you. The candidate stood up for the rights of migrant workers.

6. stand up to To confront someone or something fearlessly: The citizens were too afraid to stand up to the cruel dictator.

7. stand up with To act as best man, maid of honor, or matron of honor for some groom or bride at a wedding: I stood up with my old college roommate when he got married. She stood up with her sister at the wedding.

See also: stand, up