stand tall

English

Verb

stand tall

1. (idiomatic) To behave in a brave, proud, or unyielding manner, without retreating from confrontation, danger, or adversity.
   • 1892, Margaret Sidney, Five Little Peppers Grown Up, ch. 9:

     "I'll not sing one note!" she declared, standing tall, "not one single note!"

   • 1986, Fern Michaels, Texas Heat, ISBN 9780345331007. p. 300:

     But there was beauty in her, and an inner strength that would allow her to stand tall and accept last night's phone call.

   • 2002, Jonathan Fenby, "New elections, Same old Faces," Time, 18 March:

     The economic expansion that enabled the country to stand tall at the start of the century has slowed.

Synonyms

• walk tall

See also

• hold one's own

References

• “stand tall”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.