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

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on standby

The US Department of Homeland Security said Saturday it was on standby to send emergency management officials to assist states, if needed.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

Public health teams remain on standby to act once the boat is secured.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

More than 20,000 troops, along with machinery, equipment and vehicles, were on standby to respond to emergencies.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

Areas within the prison are still being cleared, and the military has been placed on standby after police requested support, the Reuters news agency reported.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

Six thousand militiamen were put on standby in nearby armories.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield

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