standing one's ground
Holding your position
Standing one's ground means refusing to retreat or back down when challenged.
The phrase applies to physical confrontation—holding a position against an attacker—and to arguments or principles: She stood her ground despite pressure from the board.
In legal contexts, "stand your ground" laws permit using force in self-defense without a duty to retreat.
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- stanceStanding posture or viewpoint
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- hold the lineMaintain current position
perseverance · defiance · no retreat · mental toughness · self-confidence · grit · conviction · footing · confrontation · anchoring · tenacity · immovability · courage · dig in · protection · loyalty · defense · holdout
standing one's groundfleeing
Rapid escape from danger
retreating · running away · taking flight · falling back · bolting
standing one's groundcaving in
Collapsing or surrendering
giving in · capitulating · backing down · surrendering · yielding
standing one's groundconceding
Acknowledging another's claim
backing off · rolling over · giving way · compromising · accommodating
stand, standing, stands, ground, grounds, grounded, grounding, groundwork, underground