ENGLISH
REFERENCE

stand fire

idiom
Meaning

To put oneself in the way of an enemy's firing.


Examples
SIMPLE

The soldiers had to stand fire to protect the bridge.

CONTEXTUAL

The captain ordered his men to stand fire while the rest of the unit retreated to safety.

COMPLEX

Despite the overwhelming odds and the intensity of the assault, the brave guard chose to stand fire rather than abandon his post.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    add fuel to the fire

    To worsen a conflict between people; to inflame an already tense situation.

  2. 02

    ball of fire

    A person who is especially active, ambitious, hard-working, or high-achieving.

  3. 03

    blow this pop stand

    To exit or remove oneself from a less than exciting location or environment.

  4. 04

    blow this Popsicle stand

    To leave a place, often with anger or anticipation of going somewhere more exciting.

  5. 05

    can't stand

    cannot put up with

  6. 06

    can't stand the sight of

    To hate vehemently; to really despise.

  7. 07

    catch fire

    To become engulfed in flames, to combust.

  8. 08

    draw fire

    To create a distraction that allows one's friends, co-workers, or other associates to gain an advantage over the distracted party.

Last updated April 17, 2026