# stand fire

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/stand-fire
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- The soldiers had to stand fire to protect the bridge.
- The captain ordered his men to stand fire while the rest of the unit retreated to safety.
- Despite the overwhelming odds and the intensity of the assault, the brave guard chose to stand fire rather than abandon his post.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.