Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Blossom]

I have just learned from a dictionary of idioms that to take the stand means to sit in a chair in a court of law. Why is it called taking the stand when you sit?

[bud]

There are very many different meanings of "stand." Clearly in this expression it does not mean to support oneself on ones feet.

One sense of "stand" is "platform." Usually the chair the witness sits in is on a platform so that he can be seen easily by the jury. I'd guess that this is the meaning in the expression.