stand pat
The phrase "stand pat" originates from card games like poker and blackjack, but it has also become a common idiom for maintaining one's position or resisting change.
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Definition
B2Card Games
(poker, blackjack)To play one's hand without drawing any more cards.
Example
- In poker, he decided to stand pat with his current hand.
- She chose to stand pat in blackjack, hoping her cards would be enough to win.
B2General
(idiomatic)To refuse to change one's position or opinion.
Example
- Despite the new evidence, the committee decided to stand pat on their initial decision.
- He stood pat on his principles, refusing to be swayed by the opposition.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "stand pat":
stand stillstand indead standstand one's groundstand faststand onstand byat a standstand offstand forstand withstand behindstick to one's gunsstay onsteady onstay backstand asidestand backstand downall standingstand upsit stillstay inhold the forthold outstand up tohold the stagestand sentinel