A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

stand down • step down
stand down —
1
. leave the witness box in a court of law after
giving evidence: The examining counsel is only too glad to
get rid of such a witness, and very soon tells him to stand
down. 2. (of smb. in authority) resign from one’s position or
yield one’s chance of election: Despite mounting criticism,
the head commissioner of the Metropolitan police has refused
to stand down.
step down —
1
. move to a lower level, as by taking a step:
Hug gins spoke for about ten minutes before stepping down
from the stage. 2. = stand down 2: The sacking of the chief
health officer hasn’t quelled the calls for the minister to step
down.
stand for someone • stand up for someone
stand for someone— rise to one’s feet as a mark of respect for
a person: Will all present in court stand for the judge.
stand up for someone —
1
. defend smb. who is being attacked;
give one’s support to a person: One should always stand up
for the weak and oppressed. 2. (also: stand up with someone)
act as groomsman or bridesmaid at smb.’s wedding: I was hon-
ored when Jim asked me to stand up for him at his wedding
to Mary.
See also: stand up to someone / stand up with someone.
stand guard • stand on guard
stand guard —keep smth. in safety; take care of smth.: There
the cattle are huddled together and the herders stand guard
over them until morning comes.
stand on guard —watch as a sentinel to prevent escape,
attack, etc.: She is a regular woman’s righter … and was quite
indignant when informed that she was not allowed to stand
on guard.
stand in for someone • stand in with someone
stand in for someone —act as a deputy or replacement for a
person: The actor might get injured so someone who looks
like him should stand in for him in this scene.
stand in with someone —
1
. have an understanding or com-
munity of interest with smb.: Of course if you stood in with
the chairman there’d be no difficulty in having your plan
accepted. 2. share a cost with a person: All the members agreed
to stand in with the secretary, who had bought the club sup-
plies with his own money.