stand one's ground

present singular third person stands one's ground · participle present standing one's ground · participle past stood one's ground · past stood one's ground

1. literallyTo hold a position in battle.

   It soon appears that peasants and burghers, however brave, are unable to stand their ground against veteran soldiers, whose whole life is a preparation for the day of battle, whose nerves have been braced by long familiarity with danger, and whose movements have all the precision of clockwork.

   1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, “History of England, Before the Restoration”, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, copyright edition, volume I, Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, page 41

2. idiomaticTo maintain or adhere to an opinion or position; to remain resolute in the face of opposition.

   They expect their opponents to stand their ground on the issue.

   1 more example

   “What on earth did you think you were doing?” demanded Dad as he kneeled on his son’s bedroom floor. “What on earth do you think you were doing?” replied Frank. Dad did not look pleased that his question had been met by a question, and he stood his ground. “I asked first,” said the man.

   2017, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Bad Dad, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN

   Synonyms: hold one's ground