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stand a chance

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stand

[stand] ,verb, stood, stand⋅ing, noun, plural stands for 28–48, stands, stand for 49.
–verb (used without object)
1. (of a person) to be in an upright position on the feet.
2. to rise to one's feet (often fol. by up).
3. to have a specified height when in this position: a basketball player who stands six feet seven inches.
4. to stop or remain motionless or steady on the feet.
5. to take a position or place as indicated: to stand aside.
6. to remain firm or steadfast, as in a cause.
7. to take up or maintain a position or attitude with respect to a person, issue, or the like: to stand as sponsor for a person.
8. to have or adopt a certain policy, course, or attitude, as of adherence, support, opposition, or resistance: He stands for free trade.
9. (of things) to be in an upright or vertical position, be set on end, or rest on or as on a support.
10. to be set, placed, fixed, located, or situated: The building stands at 34th Street and 5th Avenue.
11. (of an account, score, etc.) to show, be, or remain as indicated; show the specified position of the parties concerned: The score stood 18 to 14 at the half.
12. to remain erect or whole; resist change, decay, or destruction (often fol. by up): The ruins still stand. The old building stood up well.
13. to continue in force or remain valid: The agreement stands as signed.
14. to remain still, stationary, or unused: The bicycle stood in the basement all winter.
15. to be or become stagnant, as water.
16. (of persons or things) to be or remain in a specified state, condition, relation, relative position, etc.: He stood in jeopardy of losing his license.
17. to have the possibility or likelihood: He stands to gain a sizable profit through the sale of the house.
18. Chiefly British. to become or be a candidate, as for public office (usually fol. by for).
19. Nautical.
a. to take or hold a particular course at sea.
b. to move in a certain direction: to stand offshore.
20. (of a male domestic animal, esp. a stud) to be available as a sire, usually for a fee: Three Derby winners are now standing in Kentucky.
–verb (used with object)
21. to cause to stand; set upright; set: Stand the chair by the lamp.
22. to face or encounter: to stand an assault.
23. to undergo or submit to: to stand trial.
24. to endure or undergo without harm or damage or without giving way: His eyes are strong enough to stand the glare.
25. to endure or tolerate: She can't stand her father.
26. to treat or pay for: I'll stand you to a drink when the manuscript is in.
27. to perform the duty of or participate in as part of one's job or duty: to stand watch aboard ship.
–noun
28. the act of standing; an assuming of or a remaining in an upright position.
29. a cessation of motion; halt or stop.
30. a determined effort for or against something, esp. a final defensive effort: Custer's last stand.
31. a determined policy, position, attitude, etc., taken or maintained: We must take a stand on political issues.
32. the place in which a person or thing stands; station.
33. witness stand.
34. a raised platform, as for a speaker, a band, or the like.
35. stands, a raised section of seats for spectators; grandstand.
36. a framework on or in which articles are placed for support, exhibition, etc.: a hat stand.
37. a piece of furniture of various forms, on or in which to put articles (often used in combination): a nightstand; a washstand.
38. a small, light table.
39. a stall, booth, counter, or the like, where articles are displayed for sale or where some business is carried on: a fruit stand.
40. newsstand: The papers usually hit the stands at 5 a.m.
41. a site or location for business: After 20 years the ice-cream vendor was still at the same stand.
42. a place or station occupied by vehicles available for hire: a taxicab stand.
43. the vehicles occupying such a place.
44. the growing trees, or those of a particular species or grade, in a given area.
45. a standing growth, as of grass, wheat, etc.
46. a halt of a theatrical company on tour, to give a performance or performances: a series of one-night stands on the strawhat trail.
47. the town at which a touring theatrical company gives a performance.
48. hive (def. 2).
49. Metalworking. a rolling unit in a rolling mill.
50. Chiefly British. a complete set of arms or accoutrements for one soldier.
51. stand by,
a. to uphold; support: She stood by him whenever he was in trouble.
b. to adhere to (an agreement, promise, etc.); affirm: She stood by her decision despite her sister's arguments.
c. to stand ready; wait: Please stand by while I fix this antenna.
d. to get ready to speak, act, etc., as at the beginning of a radio or television program.
e. to be ready to board a plane, train, or other transport if accommodations become available at the last minute.
52. stand down,
a. Law. to leave the witness stand.
b. to step aside; withdraw, as from a competition: I agreed to stand down so that she could run for the nomination unopposed.
c. to leave or take out of active work or service: to stand down some of the ships in the fleet.
53. stand for,
a. to represent; symbolize: P.S. stands for “postscript.”
b. to advocate; favor: He stands for both freedom and justice.
c. Informal. to tolerate; allow: I won't stand for any nonsense!
54. stand in with,
a. to be in association or conspiracy with.
b. to enjoy the favor of; be on friendly terms with.
55. stand off,
a. to keep or stay at a distance.
b. to put off; evade.
56. stand on,
a. to depend on; rest on: The case stands on his testimony.
b. to be particular about; demand: to stand on ceremony.
c. Nautical. to maintain a course and speed.
57. stand out,
a. to project; protrude: The piers stand out from the harbor wall.
b. to be conspicuous or prominent: She stands out in a crowd.
c. to persist in opposition or resistance; be inflexible.
d. Nautical. to maintain a course away from shore.
58. stand over,
a. to supervise very closely; watch constantly: He won't work unless someone stands over him.
b. to put aside temporarily; postpone: to let a project stand over until the following year.
59. stand to,
a. to continue to hold; persist in: to stand to one's statement.
b. to keep at steadily: Stand to your rowing, men!
c. to wait in readiness; stand by: Stand to for action.
60. stand up,
a. to come to or remain in a standing position: to stand up when being introduced.
b. to remain strong, convincing, or durable: The case will never stand up in court. Wool stands up better than silk.
c. Slang. to fail to keep an appointment with (someone, esp. a sweetheart or date): I waited for Kim for an hour before I realized I'd been stood up.
61. stand up for,
a. to defend the cause of; support: No one could understand why he stood up for an incorrigible criminal.
b. to serve a bridegroom or bride, as best man or maid (matron) of honor.
62. stand up to, to meet or deal with fearlessly; confront: to stand up to a bully.
63. stand a chance or show, to have a chance or possibility, esp. of winning or surviving: He's a good shortstop but doesn't stand a chance of making the major leagues because he can't hit.
64. stand pat. pat 2 (def. 6).
65. stand to reason. reason (def. 18).
66. take the stand, to testify in a courtroom.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME standen (v.), OE standan; c. OS standan, MD standen, OHG stantan, standa, standan; akin to L stāre to stand, sistere, Gk histánai to make stand, Skt sthā to stand, OIr at-tá (he) is


25. abide, stomach. See bear 1 .
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To stand a chance
stand   (stānd)   
v.   stood (stŏŏd), stand·ing, stands

v.   intr.
    1. To rise to an upright position on the feet.

    2. To assume or maintain an upright position as specified: stand straight; stand to one side.

    3. To maintain an upright position on the feet.

    4. To maintain an upright or vertical position on a base or support: The urn stands on a pedestal.

    5. To be placed or situated: The building stands at the corner.

    6. To remain stable, upright, or intact: The old school still stands.

    7. To remain valid, effective, or unaltered: The agreement stands.

    8. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view.

    9. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.

    10. To come to a stop; remain motionless.

    11. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.

    1. To maintain an upright position on the feet.

    2. To maintain an upright or vertical position on a base or support: The urn stands on a pedestal.

    3. To be placed or situated: The building stands at the corner.

    4. To remain stable, upright, or intact: The old school still stands.

    5. To remain valid, effective, or unaltered: The agreement stands.

    6. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view.

    7. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.

    8. To come to a stop; remain motionless.

    9. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.

    1. To remain stable, upright, or intact: The old school still stands.

    2. To remain valid, effective, or unaltered: The agreement stands.

    3. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view.

    4. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.

    5. To come to a stop; remain motionless.

    6. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.

  1. To be or show a specified figure or amount: The balance stands at $500.

  2. To measure a specified height when in an upright position: stands six feet tall.

  3. To take up or maintain a specified position, altitude, or course: He stands on his earlier offer. We will stand firm.

  4. To be in a position of possible gain or loss: She stands to make a fortune.

    1. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view.

    2. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.

    3. To come to a stop; remain motionless.

    4. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.

  5. To be at a specified level on or as if on a scale: stands third in her class; stands high in reputation.

    1. To come to a stop; remain motionless.

    2. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.

  6. To remain without flowing or being disturbed; be or become stagnant.

  7. Nautical To take or hold a particular course or direction: a ship standing to windward.

  8. To be available as a sire. Used of horses.

  9. Chiefly British To be a candidate for public office.

v.   tr.
  1. To cause to stand; place upright.

  2. To engage in or encounter: stand battle.

    1. To resist successfully; withstand: stand the test of time; will not stand close examination.

    2. To put up with patiently or resolutely; bear: can't stand the heat. See Synonyms at bear1.

  3. To submit to or undergo: stand trial.

  4. To tolerate and benefit from: I could stand a good night's sleep.

  5. To perform the duty of: stand guard.

  6. Informal To treat (someone) or pay the cost of (food or drink): She stood him to a drink. We'll stand dinner.

n.  
  1. The act of standing.

  2. A ceasing of work or activity; a standstill or halt.

  3. A stop on a performance tour.

  4. The place or station where a person stands.

  5. A booth, stall, or counter for the display of goods for sale.

  6. A parking space reserved for taxis.

  7. A desperate or decisive effort at defense or resistance, as in a battle: made their stand at the river.

  8. A position or opinion one is prepared to uphold: must take a stand on environmental issues.

  9. stands The bleachers at a playing field or stadium.

  10. Law A witness stand.

  11. A small rack, prop, or table for holding any of various articles: a music stand; a bedside stand.

  12. A group or growth of tall plants or trees: a stand of pine.

  13. To be ready or available to act.

  14. To wait for something, such as a broadcast, to resume.

  15. To remain uninvolved; refrain from acting: stood by and let him get away.

  16. To remain loyal to; aid or support: stands by her friends.

  17. To keep or maintain: stood by her decision.

  18. Law To leave a witness stand.

  19. To withdraw, as from a political contest.

  20. To end a state of readiness or alert.

  21. To go off duty.

  22. To represent; symbolize.

  23. To advocate or support: stands for freedom of the press.

  24. To put up with; tolerate: We will not stand for impertinent behavior.

  25. To stay at a distance; remain apart or aloof.

  26. To put off; evade.

  27. Nautical To maintain a course away from shore.

  28. To be based on; depend on: The success of the project stands on management's support of it.

  29. To insist on observance of: stand on ceremony; stand on one's rights.

  30. To protrude; project.

  31. To be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent.

  32. To refuse compliance or maintain opposition; hold out: stand out against a verdict.

  33. Nautical To maintain a course away from shore.

  34. To watch or supervise closely.

  35. To hold over; postpone.

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

  37. Informal To fail to keep a date with.

Phrasal Verb(s):
stand by
  1. To be ready or available to act.

  2. To wait for something, such as a broadcast, to resume.

  3. To remain uninvolved; refrain from acting: stood by and let him get away.

  4. To remain loyal to; aid or support: stands by her friends.

  5. To keep or maintain: stood by her decision.

stand down
  1. Law To leave a witness stand.

  2. To withdraw, as from a political contest.

  3. To end a state of readiness or alert.

  4. To go off duty.

stand for
  1. To represent; symbolize.

  2. To advocate or support: stands for freedom of the press.

  3. To put up with; tolerate: We will not stand for impertinent behavior.

stand inTo act as a stand-in.
stand off
  1. To stay at a distance; remain apart or aloof.

  2. To put off; evade.

  3. Nautical To maintain a course away from shore.

stand on
  1. To be based on; depend on: The success of the project stands on management's support of it.

  2. To insist on observance of: stand on ceremony; stand on one's rights.

stand out
  1. To protrude; project.

  2. To be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent.

  3. To refuse compliance or maintain opposition; hold out: stand out against a verdict.

  4. Nautical To maintain a course away from shore.

stand over
  1. To watch or supervise closely.

  2. To hold over; postpone.

stand toTo take up positions for action.
stand up
  1. To remain valid, sound, or durable: His claim will not stand up in court. Our old car has stood up well over time.

  2. Informal To fail to keep a date with.


Idiom(s):
stand a chanceTo have a chance, as of gaining or accomplishing something.

Idiom(s):
stand (one's) ground
  1. To maintain one's position against an attack.

  2. To refuse to compromise; be unyielding.


Idiom(s):
stand on (one's) own/two feetTo be independent and responsible for oneself.

Idiom(s):
stand pat
  1. To oppose or resist change.

  2. Games To play one's poker hand without drawing more cards.


Idiom(s):
stand to reasonTo be consistent with reason: It stands to reason that if we leave late, we will arrive late.

Idiom(s):
stand up for
  1. To side with; defend.

  2. To stand up with.


Idiom(s):
stand up toTo confront fearlessly; face up to.

Idiom(s):
stand up withTo act as best man or maid of honor for (the groom or bride) at a wedding.

[Middle English standen, from Old English standan; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
stand'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: stand
Function: noun
: the place taken by a witness for testifying in court stand> —compare BAR, BENCH, DOCK, SIDEBAR
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

stand a chance

Have a possibility or a hope of success, as in Do you think Mary stands a chance of finishing the marathon? or I think we stand a fair chance of seeing the Queen arrive at Buckingham Palace. This idiom was first recorded in 1796. Also see not have an earthly chance.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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