stand-down

or stand·down

[ stand-doun ]

noun

1. Military. a temporary cessation of offensive actions; cease-fire; truce:

   a stand-down for the Christmas holidays.

2. a work stoppage or layoff.

stand down

verb

1. intr to resign or withdraw, esp in favour of another
2. intr to leave the witness box in a court of law after giving evidence
3. to go or be taken off duty

Word History and Origins

Origin of stand-down¹

First recorded in 1920–25; noun use of verb phrase stand down

Example Sentences

The safety of American personnel at the American consulate in Libya was undermined by a “stand down order.”

From The Daily Beast

Central to the Benghazi conspiracy: the alleged stand-down order that kept help from arriving from Tripoli.

From The Daily Beast

Did the commander in chief ask military assets to stand down?

From The Daily Beast

The men were initially going to be deployed to the area, and were then told to “stand down,” they said.

From The Daily Beast

What are they doing to achieve an immediate military stand down?

From The Daily Beast

At this very unexpected reply the spectators tittered, and Mr. Sergeant Buzfuz said curtly, "Stand down, sir."

From Project Gutenberg

Tell me, Jack, will you be apt to get any further lines on the way things stand down here?

From Project Gutenberg

But I'd hardly begun when I was ordered to stand down as a liar as well as a thief.

From Project Gutenberg

A formal verdict having been entered, the judge ordered the prisoner to stand down, postponing sentence.

From Project Gutenberg

"We have done with you; you can stand down," replied Mr. Keir, in mortification and disgust.

From Project Gutenberg