[standoffish]{adj.} Stiff; aloof; reserved in manner. •/The famous chess player is hard to get to know because he is so standoffish./

[stand on ceremony]{v. phr.} To follow strict rules of politeness; be very formal with other people. — Usually used with a helping verb in the negative. •/Grandmother does not stand on ceremony when her grandchildren call./

[stand one in good stead]{v. phr.} To be helpful or useful to. •/A boy scout knife will stand you in good stead when you do not have other tools./ •/Julia knew how to typewrite, and that stood her in good stead when she looked for a job./

[stand one’s ground] also [hold one’s ground] {v. phr.} 1. To stay and fight instead of running away. •/The enemy attacked in great numbers but our men stood their ground./ Compare: GAIN GROUND. Contrast: GIVE GROUND, LOSE GROUND. 2. To defend a belief or statement; refuse to weaken when opposed; insist you are right. •/John’s friends said he was mistaken but he stood his ground./ Compare: STICK TO ONE’S GUNS.

[stand on one’s own feet] or [stand on one’s own two feet] {v. phr.} To depend on yourself; do things yourself; earn your own living; be independent. •/After his father died, John had to stand on his own feet and earn his own living./ •/You should learn to stand on your own two feet./

[stand out]{v.} 1. To go farther out than a nearby surface; protect. •/A mole stood out on her cheek./ Compare: STICK OUT(1b). 2. To be more noticeable in some way than those around you; be higher, bigger, or better. •/Fred was very tall and stood out in the crowd./ •/John stood out as a track star./

[stand over]{v.} 1. To watch closely; keep checking all the time. •/Ted’s mother had to stand over him to get him to do his homework./ 2. To be held over for later action; be postponed; wait. •/The committee decided to let the proposal stand over until its next meeting./

[stand pat]{v.}, {informal} To be satisfied with things and be against a change. •/Bill had made up his mind on the question and when his friends tried to change his mind, he stood pat./ Compare: STAND ONE’S GROUND(2).

[stand the gaff]{v. phr.}, {informal} To stand rough treatment; do well in spite of great physical or mental hardship. •/An athlete must learn to stand the gaff./ •/No person running for office gets far unless he can stand the gaff./ Compare: HOLD OUT 2, STICK OUT 2.

[stand to reason]{v. phr.} To seem very likely from the known facts. •/If you have a driver’s license, it stands to reason you can drive./ •/Joe is intelligent and studies hard; it stands to reason that he will pass the examination./

[stand trial]{v. phr.} To submit to a trial by court. •/The case has been postponed and he may not have to stand trial until next April./

[stand up]{v.} 1. To rise to a standing position; get up on your feet. •/A gentleman stands up when a lady enters a room./ 2. To be strong enough to use hard or for a long time. •/A rocket must be built strongly to stand up under the blast-off./ •/The old car has already stood up for twenty years./ Compare: WEAR WELL. 3. {informal} To make a date and then fail to keep it. •/June cried when Bill stood her up on their first dale./

[stand up and be counted]{v. phr.} To be willing to say what you think in public; let people know that you are for or against something. •/The equal rights movement needs people who are willing to stand up and be counted./ •/If you disagree with the group, you should be ready to stand up and be counted./

[stand up for] or {informal} [stick up for] {v.} To defend against attack; fight for. •/John always stands up for his rights./ •/When Mary was being criticized, Jane stuck up for her./ Compare: BACK UP, GO TO BAT FOR, STAND BY, STAND ONE’S GROUND, STICK TO ONE’S GUNS, GO TO BAT FOR.

[stand up to]{v.} To meet with courage. •/Mary stood up to the snarling dog that leaped toward her./ •/A soldier must stand up to danger./

[stand up with]{v.}, {informal} To be best man or maid of honor at a wedding. •/A groom often chooses his brother to stand up with him./

[star] See: FIVE-STAR, SEE STARS, HITCH ONE’S WAGON TO A STAR, LUCKY STAR, THANK ONE’S LUCKY STARS.

[starch] See: TAKE THE STARCH OUT OF.

[stare in the face]{n. phr.} 1. To be about to meet or to happen to (you.) •/Grandmother became very sick and death was staring her in the face./ •/Defeat stared them in the face, but the soldiers fought on bravely./ 2. To be easy to see; be plain. •/Are you looking for your pencil? It’s on your desk, staring you in the face./ •/Their friends all knew that Mary loved John, but John did not see it even though it was staring him in the face./

[stars in one’s eyes]{n. phr.} 1. An appearance or feeling of very great happiness or expectation of happiness. •/Mary gets stars in her eyes when she thinks of her boyfriend./ 2. A belief in the possibility of quick and lasting reforms in people and life and an eagerness to make such changes. •/Some inexperienced people get stars in their eyes when they think of improving the world./ — [starry-eyed] {adj.} Very happy and excited, perhaps with little reason; eager and self-confident about improving human nature and general conditions of life. •/Young people are often starry-eyed and eager to improve the world; they do not know how hard it is./

[start] See: BY FITS AND STARTS, HEAD START, JACK-RABBIT START, RUNNING START.

[start from scratch] See: FROM SCRATCH.

[start in]{v.}, {informal} 1. To begin to do something; start. •/Fred started in weeding the garden./ •/The family started in eating supper./ Compare: GO AT. 2. To begin a career. •/Bob started in as an office boy and became president./ 3. To give a first job to. •/The bank started him in as a clerk./

[start out]{v.} 1. To begin to go somewhere. •/Bill started out for school on his bicycle./ •/Art started out on a voyage around the world./ Compare: SET OUT. 2. To begin a career or life. •/Harry started out as an errand boy in a business office./ •/We all start out in life as helpless infants./ Syn.: START IN. 3. {informal} To give one a first job. •/The garage man started Pete out as a grease rack man./ Syn.: START IN(3).

[start something]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make trouble; cause a quarrel or fight. •/John is always starting something./ •/Jack likes to play tricks on the other boys to start something./ Compare: MAKE SOMETHING OF.

[start the ball rolling] See: GET THE BALL ROLLING.

[start up]{v.} 1. To begin operating, •/The driver started up the motor of the car./ •/The engine started up with a roar./ 2. To begin to play (music). •/The conductor waved his baton, and the band started up./ •/The orchestra started up a waltz./ Compare: STRIKE UP. 3. To rise or stand suddenly. •/When he heard the bell, he started up from his chair./

[stash bag] or [stuff bag] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A small bag containing marijuana cigarettes or the ingredients for making them. •/The police are holding John because they found a stash bag full of the stuff on him./ 2. Any small bag resembling a stash bag used for small personal items such as lipstick, driver’s license, etc. •/Do you have any room for my keys in your stash bag?/