stand to attention
Definition of stand to attention
British
: to stand silently with the body stiff and straight, the feet together, and both arms at the sides The troops stood to attention.
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Word by Word Definitions
: to support oneself on the feet in an erect position
: to be a specified height when fully erect
: to rise to an erect position
: a halt for defense or resistance
: an often defensive effort of some duration or degree of success
: a stop made to give a performance
: the act or state of applying the mind to something
: a condition of readiness for such attention involving especially a selective narrowing or focusing of consciousness and receptivity
: observation, notice
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