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Teal lime Posted 7 years ago
Grammar

Forty-one girls died in a fire at a Guatemalan shelter as police stood by.

The following headline is taken from the online edition of The New York Times. Would you explain what "as police stood by" means, please?

Forty-one girls died in a fire at a Guatemalan shelter as police stood by.

Thank you.

  

Top answer

The were there, but they did nothing to help. Clive

— Clive

  • The were there, but they did nothing to help.
  • Clive
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2 Answers
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The were there, but they did nothing to help.

Clive

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Variants are 'to stand idly by' and 'to stand by and do nothing'.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown says to stand by and do nothing was never an option.
If he does so without legislative approval, Moustis said he won't stand idly by.
There were eight policemen in the area, but they stood by as houses were burned.
There were reports that several people stood

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