stand
see also LIE, SIT
- to be on your feet with your body upright: stand*
Stand over there, please. ◎ I've been standing all day and I'm very tired.
- to move into a standing position from your seat: stand* up, get* up
When I was at school, we had to stand up when the teacher entered the classroom. ◎ Nigel got up and left the room.
- to suddenly stop standing: fall* (down/over)
She slipped on the ice and fell. ◎ The clown kept falling over and all the children laughed.
- to remain steady and upright when you might expect to fall: keep* your balance; opposite: lose* your balance
Kate slipped, but she managed to keep her balance.
- to stand up after you have fallen: pick yourself up
The boxer picked himself up and went on with the fight.
※ more on falling FALL
※ ways of standing
- standing up tall and upright: straight; to move so that you are standing up tall and straight: straighten (yourself) up
Stand up straight!
- to stand, sit or walk in a lazy way, with your head and shoulders hanging down: slouch
- a person's way of standing, sitting, etc: posture (noun U)
You have very bad posture - you should try to stand up straight.
- on the ends of your toes, with your heels off the ground: on tiptoe; to walk quietly and carefully on tiptoe: tiptoe
I can just reach the top shelf if I stand on tiptoe. ◎ Rachel tiptoed down the stairs.
- when a soldier stands up straight with his/her feet together, he/she stands*/comes* to attention
- when a soldier stands in a relaxed way, with his/her feet apart, he/she stands* at ease
- to stand doing nothing: stand* about/around
Stop standing about. Go and do some work.
- to stand without moving your body: stand* still
Stand still, will you, or I won't be able to measure your trousers.
※ bending
- to move your body forwards and downwards: bend* (over/down)
She bent down to pick up the letters.
- to bend your body towards sb: lean over, lean towards sb
He needed a pen so he leaned over and asked the person sitting next to him.
- to bend your head and shoulders downwards: stoop
The man was so tall, he had to stoop to get through the door.
- to bend your knees so that your body is close to the ground and leaning forward slightly: crouch (down)
She crouched down to look at something on the floor.
- to bend your body forward or downward as a sign of respect or as a greeting: bow (to sb); noun: bow
He bowed as the president passed. ◎ She took a bow (= bowed to the audience to thank them for their applause) at the end of the performance.
- to bend your head forward as a sign of respect, as a greeting or because of sadness: bow your head
She bowed her head and looked at the ground.
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