If it originated in World War I, could it be that “Stand down” was actually a literal command to soldiers being relieved that they should step “down” from the raised firing step to “stand” in the bottom of their trench?
In recent years I’ve seen “stand up” as an antonym to “stand down,” even though the phrase already had the antonym “stand to.” Is this called a back formation? I suspect that some people heard the phrase “stand down” and, unaware of “stand to,” decided it needed an opposite, “stand up.”
I have noticed that the term “Stand Down” is used by judges in England to remove witnesses from the stand. “The witness may now stand down.”
Lindy:
May 2nd, 2018 at 12:33 pm
So stand down as in” lower your arms & remain an alert readiness in case you are needed to act.
Robin Miller:
June 28th, 2019 at 9:02 am
The phrase stand-down appears in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb in the book The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes published in 1892.
Brendan Hickey:
September 8th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
The phrase is commonly used in disaster relief organizations, which are not military but are influenced by military and police structure. I was curious about the origin and found this post, so thanks. In disaster relief, standing down means cancelling a deployment, reducing alert status, or going home after a response.
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Sylvia Joyce:
June 14th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Dear Word Detective,
If it originated in World War I, could it be that “Stand down” was actually a literal command to soldiers being relieved that they should step “down” from the raised firing step to “stand” in the bottom of their trench?
Steve Dunham:
July 6th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
In recent years I’ve seen “stand up” as an antonym to “stand down,” even though the phrase already had the antonym “stand to.” Is this called a back formation? I suspect that some people heard the phrase “stand down” and, unaware of “stand to,” decided it needed an opposite, “stand up.”
TJ:
October 8th, 2015 at 9:07 am
I have noticed that the term “Stand Down” is used by judges in England to remove witnesses from the stand. “The witness may now stand down.”
Lindy:
May 2nd, 2018 at 12:33 pm
So stand down as in” lower your arms & remain an alert readiness in case you are needed to act.
Robin Miller:
June 28th, 2019 at 9:02 am
The phrase stand-down appears in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb in the book The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes published in 1892.
Brendan Hickey:
September 8th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
The phrase is commonly used in disaster relief organizations, which are not military but are influenced by military and police structure. I was curious about the origin and found this post, so thanks. In disaster relief, standing down means cancelling a deployment, reducing alert status, or going home after a response.