stand up

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

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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

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