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on standby

Idioms

Ready and waiting, as in We've got three more painters on standby. This expression originated in the navy in the 1940s, where it referred to someone being ready to come on duty as soon as required. From about 1960 it began to be widely used in aviation for a passenger waiting to take the first available seat on a full flight.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In Europe, Italy has put its coal plants on standby as it girds for a prolonged energy shock.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

Medically-equipped aircraft will be on standby, too, should anyone need to be taken into isolation.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

With Islamabad on standby to host talks should they go forward, life in the capital has been upended in recent days.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

The White House said on Friday that US Vice-President JD Vance had been "on standby" to join the talks had they proved successful.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

The “red dots,” specially designated officers on standby for an emergency, would then run there to offer aid.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023