to take a firm stand

Examples

• All

• The senator decided to take a firm stand against the proposed cuts to education funding.

• Obama hasn't taken a firm stand on the strike one way or the other.

  Blog text (14)

• We took a firm stand against the new policy.

  Blog text (11)

• The invasion had succeeded only in cases where the householders had not taken a firm stand.

  Fiction book (1993)

• "But that's why it's silly to take a firm stand on either side of the debate without knowing what's been offered to whom."

  Blog text (11)

• What Tim means is that we've taken a firm stand against censorship.

  Fiction book (1995)

• It was nearly impossible to get Governor Murphy to take a firm stand on anything other than Rock'n'roll.

• Social workers who were certain of their clinical judgments were also able to take a firm stand in support of autonomy when clients were deemed capable of making decisions.

  Academic text (2003)

• McRaven took a firm stand, however, on the recent spate of leaks to journalists about national security operations that the administration and Congress are currently investigating.

  Blog text (23)

• It is important to take a firm stand on climate change, even when facing opposition from some groups.

Synonyms

I

to insist

vsto take a firm stand

∞ 2.8

Say or demand something firmly and refuse to change your mind

is similar but centers more on declaring a decision and holding it

M

to maintain

vsto take a firm stand

163 4.4

Say firmly that something is true

adds the notion of refusing to change that asserted decision

S

to speak up

vsto take a firm stand

• Informal

135 3.1

Give your opinion clearly and firmly even when it is difficult

is about both saying the opinion strongly and refusing to change it

S

to speak out against

vsto take a firm stand

44 4.1

Publicly say you are strongly against something or someone

involves declaring a decision firmly and refusing to change it rather than only opposing

S

to stand your ground

vsto take a firm stand

• Informal

25 5.7

To keep your position when others disagree

is about stating a decision loudly and refusing to change it

M

to make a stand

vsto take a firm stand

23 4.6

Publicly say you strongly agree or disagree with something

is about strongly stating a decision and refusing to change it

S

to stand firm

vsto take a firm stand

22 3.7

Keep your decision or opinion when others try to make you change

focuses on declaring an opinion strongly and not conceding

S

to stand up against

vsto take a firm stand

22 3.7

To resist a person or rule that treats people unfairly

is focused on declaring a firm decision and keeping that position

S

to stick to one's guns

vsto take a firm stand

• Informal

12 6.7

Keep supporting your idea when others disagree

focuses more on openly declaring a decision and refusing to change

H

to hold firm

vsto take a firm stand

9 4.5

To refuse to change your opinion or decision despite pressure

adds more force about clearly declaring the opinion and standing by it

H

to hold the line

vsto take a firm stand

8 5.4

To refuse to change a decision or rule under pressure

is about publicly or privately declaring a firm opinion and holding it

S

to stand fast

vsto take a firm stand

4 6.4

Refuse to change your mind when others disagree

adds the sense of firmly stating that decision and not yielding

S

to stand up and be counted

vsto take a firm stand

3 6.3

To publicly show support, often when doing so is risky

is about strongly stating an opinion and refusing to change it privately or publicly

R

to remain firm

vsto take a firm stand

2 4.4

Keep the same decision even when others disagree

emphasizes declaring the decision strongly as part of the refusal

S

to stand pat

vsto take a firm stand

2 7.9

To keep the same opinion or decision and not change it

is more about stating that decision firmly and not backing down

D

to dig in one's heels

vsto take a firm stand

• Informal

1 6.7

Refuse to change an opinion or plan when pressed

is about making a strong statement and then refusing to change

B

to budge an inch

vsto take a firm stand

• Informal

1 7.8

Refuse to change an opinion or position at all

expresses the same refusal but adds the act of stating it strongly

S

to stand by one's principles

vsto take a firm stand

1 5.4

Keep doing what you believe is right even when it is hard

is about clearly stating a decision and refusing to change despite pressure

Antonyms

C

to compromise

215 3.7

To settle a disagreement by each side giving up something

B

to back down

107 3.7

To stop insisting because others oppose you

How Firm

to stand your ground

• Informal

25 5.7

to stand firm

22 3.7

to take a firm stand

1 4.4

to make a stand

23 4.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology