Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Sina]

Hi:),

could you say that way?

He doesn't stand to his opinion. Have I used "to stand to"properly? Thanks.

[phucauto]

I think " stand his opinion" is correct. "stand" in this context means keep something firmly, unchangeably.
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the sword conquers for a while, but the soul conquers forever!

[pugachevV]

He doesn't stand by his opinion.You stand by an opinion when you defend it and refuse to change it.

[ebb]

You could say "stick to your opinion" which is a bit slangier.

You could also "hold to" your opinion if you wanted to be less slangy.

You might "stand by" a statment that you previously made, if you wanted to maintain that it was correct in the face of criticism or challenge.

However your girlfriend's comment might make sense and thereby her idea could "stand to" reason, or perhaps if you were very sensitive about your game, you could not "stand to" be corrected about your golf swing.

And of course, your friend who stands by you in the face of trouble will be considered a real "stand up" guy.
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"This is insolence up with which I will not put." Winston Churchill, upon reading a newspaper�s criticism of his having ended a sentence with a preposition.

"You can get more with a kind word and a gun, than with just a kind word." Al Capone.