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stand-down

or stand·down

[ stand-doun ]
/ ˈstændˌdaʊn /
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noun
Military. a temporary cessation of offensive actions; cease-fire; truce: a stand-down for the Christmas holidays.
a work stoppage or layoff.
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Origin of stand-down

First recorded in 1920–25; noun use of verb phrase stand down
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use stand-down in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for stand-down

stand down

verb (adverb)
(intr) to resign or withdraw, esp in favour of another
(intr) to leave the witness box in a court of law after giving evidence
mainly British to go or be taken off duty
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with stand-down

stand down

1

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

2

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]

3

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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