to stand pat

Examples

• All

• Should they have made the move on Paul, or did they do the right thing by standing pat?

  Blog text (6)

• After much discussion, we chose to stand pat on our strategy for now.

• And until that time comes... we just stand pat.

  Switchback (1997)

• You never can afford to stand pat.

  Blog text (7)

• Most will take the easy way out and stand pat for the status quo.

  Blog text (23)

• Zimmer: 'I'm not going to stand pat for this.'

  Blog text (15)

• Now if I knew we would survive this storm, I would just stand pat and ride it out for a few years until I'm ready to retire.

  Blog text (8)

• I've already offered him $50,000, but he's standing pat.

  You Can't Take It with You (1938)

• While his aides talk of the need for a multidimensional approach, Mubarak seems to be more or less standing pat.

  Academic text (1993)

• In the face of criticism, he decided to stand pat and maintain his original position.

Synonyms

S

to stand up

vsto stand pat

293 3.2

To defend yourself when someone treats you unfairly

is similar but often suggests responding to direct criticism or attack

H

to hold out

vsto stand pat

139 3.7

To refuse to give up until you get what you want

is the same idea but stresses duration of resistance rather than mere refusal

S

to sit tight

vsto stand pat

• Informal

80 3.7

To wait patiently and not act

is different because it means waiting rather than refusing to change opinion

P

to persist

vsto stand pat

62 3.7

To keep doing something or keep holding a belief despite difficulty

is broader, focusing on ongoing action rather than simply refusing change

S

to stand your ground

vsto stand pat

• Informal

25 5.7

To keep your position when others disagree

is used more generally beyond resisting outside pressure

H

to hold to

vsto stand pat

25 3.5

To stay loyal to a promise, plan or belief

is similar but focuses on commitment rather than refusing to change

M

to make a stand

vsto stand pat

23 4.6

Publicly say you strongly agree or disagree with something

is similar but may not require a public or decisive action

S

to stand firm

vsto stand pat

22 3.7

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

is the same meaning but differs only in wording

S

to stick to one's guns

vsto stand pat

• Informal

12 6.7

Keep supporting your idea when others disagree

is similar but stresses active defense rather than quiet refusal

H

to hold firm

vsto stand pat

9 4.5

To refuse to change your opinion or decision despite pressure

is equivalent in meaning but varies in phrasing or tone

H

to hold the line

vsto stand pat

8 5.4

To refuse to change a decision or rule under pressure

is similar but often refers to maintaining a specific limit or boundary

S

to stand fast

vsto stand pat

4 6.4

Refuse to change your mind when others disagree

is nearly identical but shows stronger resistance under pressure

R

to remain firm

vsto stand pat

2 4.4

Keep the same decision even when others disagree

conveys the same firmness but differs only in expression

H

to hunker down

vsto stand pat

• Informal

2 7.7

To refuse to change your mind and stay firm

is like this but implies a stronger entrenched stance

B

to budge an inch

vsto stand pat

• Informal

1 7.8

Refuse to change an opinion or position at all

is the same but emphasizes not changing even slightly

T

to take a firm stand

vsto stand pat

1 4.4

To state an opinion strongly and refuse to change it when others disagree

is like this but focuses more on holding position than declaring it

Antonyms

C

to change my mind

811 2.6

Decide to think or act differently from before

G

to give in

220 3.0

To stop resisting and agree to what others want

How Firm

to hold firm

9 4.5

to stand pat

2 7.9

to hold

732 1.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology