to stand by
503
2.6
- phrasal verb
- /stænd baɪ/
:
estar listo
- If I have to, I'll stand by the gate and grab her when she comes out.
Stand by, Stand by for a disgusting video.
- Stand by, Stand by for a disgusting video.
- Stand back and stand by, stand back and stand by.
- So if you have anything you want to cast up, have it ready and standing by and you can pour it in.
- Bare knuckled brawlers from Trump world are standing by.
- And to go on a deployment and you're told to, you know, stand back and stand by.
- You know, how can you be a scientist if you're not first and foremost willing to say I'm standing by to be disproved at all times?
- So stand by Forza, Fed CPI, Fed bond market, OK, let's see here.
- Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.
- Karate Kathleen, if you're out there, call in was standing by.
Examples
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All stations, stand by for final "Go/No go."
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In addition, obstetricians should stand by for the assessment of pregnant casualties.
Academic text (2007) -
And I think it's our duty to stand by them and to do something to help them.
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So our job was to stand by in the waiting room.
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And there are people standing by right now that are trained, that want to help you.
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King and medical professionals are standing by to answer questions.
Academic text (2008) -
So, I would recommend that you arrange to have a plane stand by.
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Please stand by for last rites.
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Operators are standing by.
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We need volunteers who can stand by to assist during the emergency.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To stay in one place or delay action until something happens
332
2.9
Stay in a place to wait for something
Stay nearby or wait in a place for a short time
Antonyms
How Ready
Surface Forms
Morphology
stand + by
The meaning 'to be ready and available; wait in readiness' is directly derivable from combining 'stand' (remain in place/hold position) with 'by' (near/at hand), following a common verb + preposition composition. This is a routine instructional/organizational phrase (e.g., 'stand by for further instructions') and is cross-linguistically and contextually transparent enough for a B1 learner who knows the constituents to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Stand by comes from the idea of people standing close at hand (by) ready to move quickly if needed. So, stand by means 'be ready' or wait for instructions.