stand the gaff

Idioms  

1. Take severe criticism or other adversity in stride, as in If you can't stand the gaff, don't try running for office. [Slang; late 1800s]

---

Example Sentences

The full pursuit was a well-organized chase, not necessarily to catch the fox, but to find out which hound could best stand the gaff of the rugged, three-day test.

From Time Magazine Archive

Though "time and change shall naught avail to break the friendships formed at Yale," friendships formed at Princeton apparently do not stand the gaff so well.

From Time Magazine Archive

Princeton Coach Charley Caldwell, 1950 coach-of-the-year and likely to be the coach of 1951, is frank to admit that, as a 155-lb. freshman, Kazmaier simply looked too frail to stand the gaff of big-time football.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Navy harbors little doubt about the ability of Polaris crews to stand the gaff.

From Time Magazine Archive

"I'm the cause for all this, and I'll stand the gaff!"

From The Texan A Story of the Cattle Country by Hendryx, James B. (James Beardsley)