[squeak through]{v.}, {informal} To be successful but almost fail; win by a small score. •/Susan squeaked through the history examination./ •/The football team squeaked through 7-6./ Compare: BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH.
[squeeze out of]{v. phr.} To apply pressure to someone in order to obtain what one desires. •/The police were interrogating the suspect to squeeze information out of him./
[stab in the back(1)]{v. phr.}, {slang} To say or do something unfair that harms (a friend or someone who trusts you). •/Owen stabbed his friend Max in the back by telling lies about him./
[stab in the back(2)]{n. phr.}, {slang} An act or a lie that hurts a friend or trusting person; a promise not kept, especially to a friend. •/John stabbed his own friend in the back by stealing from his store./ •/My friend stabbed me in the back by telling the teacher I was playing hooky when I was home sick./
[stab in the dark]{n. phr.} A random attempt or guess at something without previous experience or knowledge of the subject. •/"You’re asking me who could have hidden grandpa’s will," Fred said. "I really have no idea, but let me make a stab in the dark — I think my sister Hermione has it."/
[stack] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW ONE’S STACK.
[stack the cards]{v. phr.} 1. To arrange cards secretly and dishonestly for the purpose of cheating. •/The gambler had stacked the cards against Bill./ 2. To arrange things unfairly for or against a person; have things so that a person has an unfair advantage or disadvantage; make sure in an unfair way that things will happen. — Usually used in the passive with "in one’s favor" or "against one." •/A tall basketball player has the cards stacked in his favor./ •/The cards are stacked against a poor boy who wants to go to college./
[stage] See: AT --- STAGE OF THE GAME, HOLD THE STAGE, ON THE STAGE, SET THE STAGE.
[stage fright]{n. phr.} The fear one feels before appearing in front of an audience. •/Many famous actors and actresses admit that they often have stage fright before the curtain goes up./
[stagestruck]{adj.} Desirous of becoming an actor or actress; enamored of the acting profession. •/Milly is so stagestruck that she waits for actresses at the stage door after each performance to get their signatures./
[stage whisper]{n. phr.} A loud whisper intended to reach other ears than those of the person(s) addressed. •/Some jokes should be told in a stage whisper./
[stag party] See: GO STAG. Contrast: HEN PARTY.
[stake] See: AT STAKE, PULL UP STAKES.
[stake a claim]{v. phr.} 1. To claim ownership of land by driving stakes to show boundaries. •/The gold hunters staked claims in the West./ 2. {informal} To claim a person or thing as your own by some sign. Usually used with "on". •/George staked a claim on Dianne by giving her his class ring./
[stamp] See: SAVINGS STAMP, TRADING STAMP.
[stamping ground]{n.}, {informal} A place where a person spends much of his time. •/Pete’s soda fountain is an afterschool stamping ground./ •/When John returned to his hometown many years later, he visited all of his old stamping grounds./
[stamp out]{v.} To destroy completely and make disappear. •/In the last few years, we have nearly stamped out polio by using vaccine./ •/The police and judges are trying to stamp out crime./ Compare: WIPE OUT.
[stand] See: GOAL LINE STAND, HAIR STAND ON END, HEART STAND STILL, LEG TO STAND ON.
[stand a chance] or [stand a show] {n. phr.} To have a possibility or opportunity; be likely to do or get something. •/Fred doesn’t stand a chance of being elected./ •/We stand a good chance of seeing Mary at the party./
[standard time] also [slow time] {n.} Clock time that is set by law or agreement in a country or in part of a country; especially, in the United States: the clock time used between fall and spring, which is an hour slower than the time used in the summer. — Abbreviation ST. •/When we go to bed Saturday night, we will set our clocks back an hour, because Sunday we will be on standard time again./ •/Next week it will get dark an hour earlier, because we will be on standard time./ Contrast: DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.
[stand by]{v.} 1. To be close beside or near. •/Mary could not tell Jane the secret with her little brother standing by./ •/Would you just stand by and watch the big boys beat your little brother?/ 2. To be near, waiting to do something when needed. •/The policeman in the patrol car radioed the station about the robbery, and then stood by for orders./ •/Lee stood by with a fire extinguisher while the trash was burning./ 3. To follow or keep (one’s promise). •/He is a boy who always stands by his promises./ 4. To be loyal to; support; help. •/When three big boys attacked Bill, Ed stood by him./ •/Some people blamed Harry when he got into trouble, but Joe stood by him./ Compare: BACK UP, HANG TOGETHER, STAND UP FOR.
[stand by one’s guns] See: STICK TO ONE’S GUNS.
[stand for]{v.} 1. To be a sign of; make you think of; mean. •/The letters "U.S.A." stand for "United States of America."/ •/The written sign "=" in an arithmetic problem stands for "equals."/ •/Our flag stands for our country./ •/The owl stands for wisdom./ 2. To speak in favor of something, or show that you support it. •/The new President stood for honest government./ •/John always stands for what is right./ 3. {Chiefly British} To try to be elected for. •/Three men from London are standing for parliament./ •/The governor did not stand for reelection./ 4. {informal} To allow to happen or to be done; permit. — Usually used in the negative, •/The teacher will not stand for fooling in the classroom./ Compare: HAVE IT(4), PUT UP WITH.
[stand in awe of]{v. phr.} To look upon with wonder; feel very respectful to. •/Janet always stands in awe of the superintendent./ •/The soldier stood in awe to his officers./
[stand in for]{v. phr.} To substitute for someone. •/The famous brain surgeon was called out of town so his assistant had to stand in for him during the operation./
[stand in one’s way] See: IN ONE’S WAY.
[stand in with]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be liked by or friendly with. — Usually used with "well". •/John stands in well with the teacher./
[stand off]{v.} 1. To stay at a distance; stay apart. •/At parties, Mr. Jones goes around talking to everyone, but Mrs. Jones is shy and stands off./ 2. To keep (someone or something) from coming near or winning. •/The soldiers defending the fort stood off a large band of Indians./ •/The other schools wanted to beat our team and win the championship, but our boys stood them all off./ Contrast: GIVE GROUND.
[standoffish]{adj.} Stiff; aloof; reserved in manner. •/The famous chess player is hard to get to know because he is so standoffish./
[stand on ceremony]{v. phr.} To follow strict rules of politeness; be very formal with other people. — Usually used with a helping verb in the negative. •/Grandmother does not stand on ceremony when her grandchildren call./
[stand one in good stead]{v. phr.} To be helpful or useful to. •/A boy scout knife will stand you in good stead when you do not have other tools./ •/Julia knew how to typewrite, and that stood her in good stead when she looked for a job./
[stand one’s ground] also [hold one’s ground] {v. phr.} 1. To stay and fight instead of running away. •/The enemy attacked in great numbers but our men stood their ground./ Compare: GAIN GROUND. Contrast: GIVE GROUND, LOSE GROUND. 2. To defend a belief or statement; refuse to weaken when opposed; insist you are right. •/John’s friends said he was mistaken but he stood his ground./ Compare: STICK TO ONE’S GUNS.
[stand on one’s own feet] or [stand on one’s own two feet] {v. phr.} To depend on yourself; do things yourself; earn your own living; be independent. •/After his father died, John had to stand on his own feet and earn his own living./ •/You should learn to stand on your own two feet./
[stand out]{v.} 1. To go farther out than a nearby surface; protect. •/A mole stood out on her cheek./ Compare: STICK OUT(1b). 2. To be more noticeable in some way than those around you; be higher, bigger, or better. •/Fred was very tall and stood out in the crowd./ •/John stood out as a track star./
[stand over]{v.} 1. To watch closely; keep checking all the time. •/Ted’s mother had to stand over him to get him to do his homework./ 2. To be held over for later action; be postponed; wait. •/The committee decided to let the proposal stand over until its next meeting./
[stand pat]{v.}, {informal} To be satisfied with things and be against a change. •/Bill had made up his mind on the question and when his friends tried to change his mind, he stood pat./ Compare: STAND ONE’S GROUND(2).
[stand the gaff]{v. phr.}, {informal} To stand rough treatment; do well in spite of great physical or mental hardship. •/An athlete must learn to stand the gaff./ •/No person running for office gets far unless he can stand the gaff./ Compare: HOLD OUT 2, STICK OUT 2.
[stand to reason]{v. phr.} To seem very likely from the known facts. •/If you have a driver’s license, it stands to reason you can drive./ •/Joe is intelligent and studies hard; it stands to reason that he will pass the examination./
[stand trial]{v. phr.} To submit to a trial by court. •/The case has been postponed and he may not have to stand trial until next April./
[stand up]{v.} 1. To rise to a standing position; get up on your feet. •/A gentleman stands up when a lady enters a room./ 2. To be strong enough to use hard or for a long time. •/A rocket must be built strongly to stand up under the blast-off./ •/The old car has already stood up for twenty years./ Compare: WEAR WELL. 3. {informal} To make a date and then fail to keep it. •/June cried when Bill stood her up on their first dale./
[stand up and be counted]{v. phr.} To be willing to say what you think in public; let people know that you are for or against something. •/The equal rights movement needs people who are willing to stand up and be counted./ •/If you disagree with the group, you should be ready to stand up and be counted./
[stand up for] or {informal} [stick up for] {v.} To defend against attack; fight for. •/John always stands up for his rights./ •/When Mary was being criticized, Jane stuck up for her./ Compare: BACK UP, GO TO BAT FOR, STAND BY, STAND ONE’S GROUND, STICK TO ONE’S GUNS, GO TO BAT FOR.
[stand up to]{v.} To meet with courage. •/Mary stood up to the snarling dog that leaped toward her./ •/A soldier must stand up to danger./
[stand up with]{v.}, {informal} To be best man or maid of honor at a wedding. •/A groom often chooses his brother to stand up with him./
[star] See: FIVE-STAR, SEE STARS, HITCH ONE’S WAGON TO A STAR, LUCKY STAR, THANK ONE’S LUCKY STARS.
[starch] See: TAKE THE STARCH OUT OF.
[stare in the face]{n. phr.} 1. To be about to meet or to happen to (you.) •/Grandmother became very sick and death was staring her in the face./ •/Defeat stared them in the face, but the soldiers fought on bravely./ 2. To be easy to see; be plain. •/Are you looking for your pencil? It’s on your desk, staring you in the face./ •/Their friends all knew that Mary loved John, but John did not see it even though it was staring him in the face./
[stars in one’s eyes]{n. phr.} 1. An appearance or feeling of very great happiness or expectation of happiness. •/Mary gets stars in her eyes when she thinks of her boyfriend./ 2. A belief in the possibility of quick and lasting reforms in people and life and an eagerness to make such changes. •/Some inexperienced people get stars in their eyes when they think of improving the world./ — [starry-eyed] {adj.} Very happy and excited, perhaps with little reason; eager and self-confident about improving human nature and general conditions of life. •/Young people are often starry-eyed and eager to improve the world; they do not know how hard it is./
