stand at attention
idiom
US
: to stand silently with the body stiff and straight, the feet together, and both arms at the sides
The troops stood at attention.
Examples of stand at attention in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Whenever the pope would arrive, the palace doors would open, the Swiss Guards would stand at attention and the town would come to life, said Patrizia Gasperini, whose family runs a souvenir shop on the main piazza a few steps from the palace front door.
—
Dario Artale, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
During voting, the doors of the Sistine Chapel will be locked and the Swiss Guard will stand at attention outside.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 Apr. 2025
Vehicles on every road in Israel come to a halt and drivers emerge from their cars or trucks to stand at attention.
—Rabbi Steve Roth, Sun Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2025
This extended to the writers of the shows, who were expected to stand at attention when McMahon entered a room and only sit after he was seated.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
Civilians are to stand at attention with their right hand over their heart.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2025
The three men step through the office doorway and stand at attention.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Jan. 2025
Rows of sturdy two- and three-story flats stand at attention on countless streets.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2025
The tank crews stand at attention in navy blue boiler suits.
—Tim Neville, Outside Online, 25 Nov. 2024
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Dario Artale, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
During voting, the doors of the Sistine Chapel will be locked and the Swiss Guard will stand at attention outside.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 Apr. 2025
Vehicles on every road in Israel come to a halt and drivers emerge from their cars or trucks to stand at attention.
—Rabbi Steve Roth, Sun Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2025
This extended to the writers of the shows, who were expected to stand at attention when McMahon entered a room and only sit after he was seated.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
Civilians are to stand at attention with their right hand over their heart.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2025
The three men step through the office doorway and stand at attention.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Jan. 2025
Rows of sturdy two- and three-story flats stand at attention on countless streets.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2025
The tank crews stand at attention in navy blue boiler suits.
—Tim Neville, Outside Online, 25 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Stand at attention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stand%20at%20attention. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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