Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to stand fire

to stand fire

7.9
To face danger, criticism, or pressure without showing fear
  • phrasal verb
  • Archaic
translation icon : soportar la presión
  • Despite facing harsh criticism, she was able to stand fire and defend her decisions.

Examples

  • In challenging times, it's important to stand fire and not give in to pressure.

  • The team must stand fire during the tough competition if they want to win.

  • Can't stand fire.

    House of Frankenstein (1944)

Synonyms

to stand up
vsto stand fire
222 3.0

To continue to be correct when people check it

focuses on bravery in danger or pressure rather than steady effectiveness

Antonyms

to flee
331 2.4

To run away from a place because it is dangerous

to shrink
34 2.3

Move back suddenly because of fear or pain

How Courageous

to confront
310 4.1
to stand fire
  • Archaic
7.9
to endure
304 3.5
to shrink back
  • Informal
1 4.7
to flinch
71 4.1

Surface Forms

stand fire infinitive
standing fire present participle
stands fire third person singular
stood fire past
stood fire past participle

Morphology

stand + fire

The verb 'stand' (to endure) combined with 'fire' (verbal attack/criticism) yields a directly compositional meaning 'endure criticism', so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely infer the MWE. This follows common English patterns (e.g. 'stand criticism', 'withstand fire') and is therefore transparent, despite the specific collocation 'stand fire' being somewhat less frequent.

Etymology

Stand fire may come from old battlefields where soldiers had to stand while enemy guns fired at them; to stand the fire meant to stay in place under attack. That's why today stand fire means 'to endure danger, criticism, or pressure without moving or giving up'.