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Synonyms

take a stand

Idioms  

  1. Adopt a firm position about an issue, as in She was more than willing to take a stand on abortion rights. This idiom alludes to the military sense of stand, “hold one's ground against an enemy.” [Mid-1800s] Also see make a stand.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And when Jimmy Carter announced the return of the selective service in 1980, in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Gil, still an underclassman, decided to take a stand: He refused to sign up.

From Slate

“The Catholic Church in particular has a strong immigrant base. I think Pope Leo had to take a stand on that.”

From The Wall Street Journal

He didn’t want to take a stand in this “interesting” “little” race.

From The Wall Street Journal

"At some point you have to take a stand."

From BBC

“Sometimes a girl has to take a stand,” I explained in a serious whisper.

From Literature

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

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