can't stand

1. Also,. Thoroughly dislike; be unable to put up with something or someone. For example, I can't stand the sight of her; she's obnoxious, or I can't bear to leave the country, or I can't stomach a filthy kitchen. The oldest of these synonymous expressions is can't abide, which Shakespeare used in 2 Henry IV (3:2): “She could not abide Master Shallow.” Can't stand dates from the early 1600; can't bear dates from about 1700 and often but not always is used with an infinitive; can't stomach dates from the late 1600s and today is less common than the others.

Example Sentences

“I can’t stand keys. Being touched when I’m asleep. If I see an officer with cuffs in their hand, I get scared and nervous.”

From Los Angeles Times

Seeing Deen in her element, it’s easy to remember why America fell head over heels for the sassy Southern chef in an instant: She’s as personable and witty as the aunt who drinks a little too much of the cooking wine while braising the chicken, the kind of person who would make you want to be in the kitchen, even if you can’t stand the heat.

From Salon

"You can't stand still," she added.

From BBC

If the university of the fourth-largest economy on the planet signals that it can’t stand up to this, what university will risk it?

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s the same thing here, but for some reason, we feel like we can’t stand up.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abhor 
• despise 
• detest 
• loathe 
• scorn 
• shun