Phrasal Verbs

stand down

This page is about the phrasal verb stand down

British and Australian English

Meaning

to resign or retire from a job or a position

Synonym

resign, step down

For example

  • stand down The CEO decided to stand down when he turned seventy so that a younger person could take over.

  • stand down Many people were demanding that the Minister of Defence stand down after he admitted some prisoners had been tortured.

Variety

This is typically used in British and Australian English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz

If the team's manager stands down, the team's owners will have to

a. help him get up

b. pay him more money

c. find another manager
a) help him get up b) pay him more money c) find another manager

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1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context

Contributor: Matt Errey