stand ground
Hold your position
To stand ground (or stand one's ground) is to maintain a position despite pressure to retreat or yield.
The phrase originates in military contexts—holding a defensive position against attack—but now applies broadly to any situation requiring resolve: She stood her ground during the negotiations, He refused to back down, standing his ground against criticism.
Stand-your-ground laws permit using force in self-defense without a duty to retreat.
- hold firmMaintain one's position
- hold the lineMaintain current position
- dig inBegin a meal
- resistOppose or refuse compliance
- defiantOpenly resisting control
unwavering · stubborn · resolute · backbone · steadfast · immovable · planted · rooted · draw the line · face down · stare down · courage · grit · fortitude · unyielding · tenacious · brave · fight back
- Stand Uphold firm, face up to, push back, fight back, speak up
- military commandsattention, halt, fall back, advance, attack
stand groundretreat
Sanctuary or withdrawal
flee · run away · give ground · fall back · withdraw
stand groundgive in
Cease resistance, concede
cave in · back down · capitulate · surrender · yield
stand groundconcede
Admit something reluctantly
capitulate · roll over · knuckle under · surrender · submit
stand, ground, stands, standing, standstill, standpoint, standoff, withstand, understand