stand up

What does "stand up" mean?

1. To rise to a standing position
2. To fail to meet someone as planned
3. To remain valid after examination

Examples

• Please stand up when the judge enters.
• He stood me up! He never came.
• That excuse won't stand up in court.
• Stand up straight and don't slouch.
• Her argument stands up to scrutiny.

How to use it

'Stand someone up' is informal for failing to show up for a date. 'Stand-up comedy' is a specific genre.

Word order

For rising: intransitive. For failing to meet: separable ('stand someone up').

Similar expressions

Opposites

Related phrasal verbs

• stand out

  To be very noticeable or different

• stand by

  To support someone in difficult times

• stand for

  To represent or be an abbreviation for

• stand in

  To temporarily take someone's place

• stand up for

  To defend or support someone or something

• get up

  To rise from bed after sleeping