stood one's ground
Refused to yield
To stand one's ground is to hold a position against opposition or attack, refusing to retreat or back down.
The phrase applies literally to physical confrontation and figuratively to arguments or principles: She stood her ground when the board pressured her to resign.
In legal contexts, "stand your ground" laws permit using force in self-defense without a duty to retreat.
- immovabilityInability to be shifted
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
drew the line · noncompliance · perseverance · dug in · rootedness · confrontation · holdout · resolve · toe · bravery · fortitude · willpower · dirt · steadfastness · heel · tenacity · stance · anchoring
stood one's groundfled
Escaped from danger
retreated · ran away · took flight · turned tail · fell back
stood one's groundgave in
Stopped resisting pressure
surrendered · capitulated · backed down · caved in · caved
stood one's groundshied away
Withdrew from apprehensively
ducked out · sidestepped · evaded · dodged · walked away
stand, stood, standing, stands, ones, ground, grounds, grounded, grounding