stand-down

Or stand·down

[stand-doun]

noun

1. Military.,  a temporary cessation of offensive actions; cease-fire; truce.

   a stand-down for the Christmas holidays.

2. a work stoppage or layoff.

stand down

verb

1. (intr) to resign or withdraw, esp in favour of another

2. (intr) to leave the witness box in a court of law after giving evidence

3. to go or be taken off duty

Word History and Origins

Origin of stand down¹

First recorded in 1920–25; noun use of verb phrase stand down

Idioms and Phrases

Leave a witness stand, as in The judge told her to stand down . [Late 1600s]

Withdraw, as from a political contest or a game or race, as in Harry decided to stand down as a candidate for mayor . [Late 1800s]

Go off duty, as in The American forces were ordered to stand down . [Early 1900s]

Related Words

• abolish 
• abrogate 
• annul 
• cancel 
• dismantle 
• invalidate 
• lift 
• nullify 
• rescind 
• reverse 
• revoke 
• set aside 
• void 
• wipe out 
• withdraw