of posture than “stand at ease” (personnel are allowed to move their arms and torso in a relaxed posture): When on parade do not talk or move about in the ranks. Only when the order “Stand Easy ” has been given may you talk. Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase stand firm—remain true to smth.; maintain one’s atti- tude: He told Radio New Zealand that he would stand firm against demands that he resign. stand away from something • stand clear of something stand away from something—move backwards from smth.: Jonny took a deep breath as he stood away from the computer, still staring transfixed at the screen. stand clear of something—remain at a distance from smth.: The conductor gave the command to “stand clear of the clos- ing doors” and we were on our way uptown again. stand down • step down stand down —1. leave the witness box in a court of law after giving evidence: The examining counsel is only too glad to get rid of such a witness, and very soon tells him to stand down . 2. (of smb. in authority) resign from one’s position or yield one’s chance of election: Despite mounting criticism, the head commissioner of the Metropolitan police has refused to stand down . step down—1. move to a lower level, as by taking a step: Huggins spoke for about ten minutes before stepping down from the stage. 2. = stand down 2: The sacking of the chief health officer hasn’t quelled the calls for the minister to step down . stand for someone • stand up for someone stand for someone—rise to one’s feet as a mark of respect for a person: Will all present in court stand for the judge. stand up for someone—1. defend smb. who is being attacked; give one’s support to a person: One should always stand up for the weak and oppressed. 2. (also: stand up with someone) act as groomsman or bridesmaid at smb.’s wedding: I was hon- ored when Jim asked me to stand up for him at his wedding to Mary. See also: stand up to someone / stand up with someone. stand guard • stand on guard stand guard —keep smth. in safety; take care of smth.: There the cattle are huddled together and the herders stand guard over them until morning comes. stand on guard—watch as a sentinel to prevent escape, attack, etc.: She is a regular woman’s righter … and was quite indignant when informed that she was not allowed to stand on guard . stand in for someone • stand in with someone stand in for someone—act as a deputy or replacement for a person: The actor might get injured so someone who looks like him should stand in for him in this scene. stand in with someone—1. have an understanding or com- munity of interest with smb.: Of course if you stood in with the chairman there’d be no difficulty in having your plan accepted. 2. share a cost with a person: All the members agreed to stand in with the secretary, who had bought the club sup- plies with his own money. stand in for something • stand out for something stand in for something—1. support a cause: Living in what looks like a remarkably nice housing estate, Topsy and Tim clearly stand in for classless society. 2. be in league with a per- son for mutual support or joint action: The policeman who “stood in” for this robbery saw the rogues depart with their plunder. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase stand for something1. = stand in for something 1: We stand for nonracial not multiracial cricket and believe in selection on merit, irrespective of color. 2. indicate or imply smth.: What will the term “Accredited Milk” stand for ? It will be milk from cows that have been clinically tested. 3. offer oneself as a candidate for an office: I even became political enough to stand for a councillorship. 4. put up with smth.; bear smth.: Overseas Governments just won’t stand for it, par- ticularly when they get to know what’s going on. stand out for something= stand in for something 1: He has not grit enough to stand out for justice and honesty. stand in good with someone • stand someone in good stead stand in good with someone—be on friendly terms with a person; enjoy smb.’s favor: He should be able to do this favor for you, because he stands in good with the doctor. stand someone in good stead—prove to be useful or helpful to a person (in an emergency): Frank’s knowledge of Spanish stood him in good stead when his firm sent him to Mexico. stand off from someone • stand out from someone stand off from someone—(also: stand apart from someone) keep away from other people: Mary dislikes parties, and tends to stand off from everyone else if she does attend one. stand out from someone—be prominent or conspicuous in comparison with others: He stands out from among men for his brilliant mental powers. stand on one’s feet • stand on one’s own feet stand on one’s feet—remain standing: He stood on his feet , twelve to sixteen hours per day, in front of a hot oven that never stopped circulating thousands of loaves of baking bread. stand on one’s own feet—(also: stand on one’s own two feet) be independent; rely on one’s own resources: I won’t lend you any money, it’s time you stood on your own feet and earned your own living. stand up to someone • stand up with someone stand up to someone—(also: stick up to someone) meet an opponent with courage; resist a person: If you don’t stand up to this man, he will abuse you unmercifully. stand up with someone—1. take part in a dance with a part- ner: I thought you were to stand up with Mr. Tomlinson the two last dances. 2. (also: stand up for someone) act as grooms- man or bridesmaid at smb.’s wedding: Of course I know John. He stood up with me at my wedding. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase stand someone up(coll.) fail to keep an arrangement to meet a person, especially one’s romantic partner: Peter said he’d meet me outside the station, but he stood me up . See also: stand for someone / stand up for someone. star route system • star system star route system —(U.S.) mail delivery in a rural area served by a private carrier who takes mail from a railroad station and delivers it to mailboxes: The “star route” system has been superseded by the admirable system of rural free deliveries. star system—(Cinema, TV) the practice of promoting emi- nent actors in leading roles: It can dispense with the star sys - tem by concentrating on teamwork in which lead actors one night become walk-ons the next. start off on something • start up in something start off on something—make a start on smth.: I actually started off on piano, which was my dream instrument. – 305 – start off on something