What Does "Stand By" Mean?
"Stand by" is an English idiom. It means "to be ready and available to assist or take action; to wait patiently for further instructions or developments."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "stand by" used in a sentence:- The emergency response team was on standby, ready to assist in case of an accident.
- She asked her friends to stand by as she attempted to fix the broken appliance.
- While negotiations were ongoing, both parties agreed to stand by their respective positions.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Stand By" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "stand by" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
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