stand pat

British  

verb

1. poker to refuse the right to change any of one's cards; keep one's hand unchanged

2. to resist change or remain unchanged

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stand pat Idioms  

1. Refuse to change one's position or opinion, as in We're going to stand pat on this amendment to the bylaws. This expression may be derived from the verb pat in the sense of “strike firmly and accurately.” [Late 1800s]

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Other Word Forms

• standpatter
  noun

Example Sentences

"It feels to me like they are looking for reasons to stand pat, and this gives them a reason," said Edelberg, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026

Anything less than that, and the Fed is almost certain to stand pat.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026

The Bank of England is also expected to stand pat.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

While most economists expect the central bank to stand pat for another quarter, Barclays economists see a chance of a 12.5-basis-point hike in the June meeting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

Should he stand pat on his straight or discard the heart and draw to his straight flush?

From Steve Yeager by Raine, William MacLeod