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HSS Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Stand
Hi, I hope your health is good and that your heart is full.
Now, I believe "stand" in the following examples is slangish, and conveys a sense of suggestion, but I just don't see how the verb, meaninig "to rise," comes to mean that. I would be obliged if you would lead me to the logic.
[1] You could stand a little rest.
[2] You could stand a glass of super cold wine.
[3] You could stand to work out a bit more.
Hiro/ Sendai, Japan
Now, I believe "stand" in the following examples is slangish, and conveys a sense of suggestion, but I just don't see how the verb, meaninig "to rise," comes to mean that. I would be obliged if you would lead me to the logic.
[1] You could stand a little rest.
[2] You could stand a glass of super cold wine.
[3] You could stand to work out a bit more.
Hiro/ Sendai, Japan
Top answer
" Your writing could stand a little editing, for example, would mean that your writing would benefit from being edited. "
- " Your writing could stand a little editing, for example, would mean that your writing would benefit from being edited.
- "
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11 Answers
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Hello Hiro,
It's just a different use of the word, not related to "to rise." It means "benefit from."
Your writing could stand a little editing, for example, would mean that your writing would benefit from being edited. (Not a commentary on YOUR writing - it's just a sample sentence."
In #3, you'd have to change it to "You would benefit from working out a bit more."
It's just a different use of the word, not related to "to rise." It means "benefit from."
Your writing could stand a little editing, for example, would mean that your writing would benefit from being edited. (Not a commentary on YOUR writing - it's just a sample sentence."
In #3, you'd have to change it to "You would benefit from working out a bit more."
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[3] You could stand to work out a bit more.
You could say that only with an ironical meaning, say to a person whom you consider lazy.
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stand
1 a : to endure or undergo successfully <stand the cold> <stand the test of time> <how his motives would stand a closer scrutiny&g
You could say that only with an ironical meaning, say to a person whom you consider lazy.
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stand
1 a : to endure or undergo successfully <stand the cold> <stand the test of time> <how his motives would stand a closer scrutiny&g
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Hi.
I just don't seem to have a good grasp of this usage. I wonder in what situation you could use stand in this sense and what sort of noun or in case of "could stand to do" verb you could use.
Many thanks.
Hiro/ Sendai, Japan
I just don't seem to have a good grasp of this usage. I wonder in what situation you could use stand in this sense and what sort of noun or in case of "could stand to do" verb you could use.
Many thanks.
Hiro/ Sendai, Japan
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Grammar GeekHi, GG.
In #3, you'd have to change it to "You would benefit from working out a bit more."
I'm curious to know what makes "You could stand to work out a bit more" sound odd. I'd appreciate it if you would help me with that, GG.
Hiro
Sendai, Japan
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I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. The way you had it was fine.
I meant to say that if you substitute in "would benefit from" for "could stand" then you would need to change "to work out" to the the gerund "working out."
You could stand can take a noun [a nice hot cup of coffee] or the infinitive [to work out] after it, but You would benefit from requires a noun.
I meant to say that if you substitute in "would benefit from" for "could stand" then you would need to change "to work out" to the the gerund "working out."
You could stand can take a noun [a nice hot cup of coffee] or the infinitive [to work out] after it, but You would benefit from requires a noun.
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Hi, all.
I just don't see how "stand" is used to mean "to benefit from." I can easily understand how "stand" is used to mean "to be able to torerate," as "stand" gives you a notion of "holding tight, not caving in" --- standing through the thing that the subject should go through, but how "stand" is used to mean "to benefit from." The same thing goes to "stand" meaning "to treat" as in "t
I just don't see how "stand" is used to mean "to benefit from." I can easily understand how "stand" is used to mean "to be able to torerate," as "stand" gives you a notion of "holding tight, not caving in" --- standing through the thing that the subject should go through, but how "stand" is used to mean "to benefit from." The same thing goes to "stand" meaning "to treat" as in "t
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Hiro:
You could stand/tolerate working out a bit more.
You could survive working out a bit more.
all mean saying ironically to that person that he/she won't be killed or made sick by doing that work, but on the contrary, as GG says, he will benefit from it:
You would benefit from working out a bit mo
You could stand/tolerate working out a bit more.
You could survive working out a bit more.
all mean saying ironically to that person that he/she won't be killed or made sick by doing that work, but on the contrary, as GG says, he will benefit from it:
You would benefit from working out a bit mo
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Hi, Marius.
Thanks for your help. Does the same logic --- you won't be killed or made sick by that, but on the contrary ... --- apply to the rest, [1] and [2]?
And how about "stand you icecream"? How could you interpret this "stand"? I know the meaning but how do you think "stand" comes to it?
Many thanks in advance.
Hiro
Thanks for your help. Does the same logic --- you won't be killed or made sick by that, but on the contrary ... --- apply to the rest, [1] and [2]?
And how about "stand you icecream"? How could you interpret this "stand"? I know the meaning but how do you think "stand" comes to it?
Many thanks in advance.
Hiro
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Stand can indeed have a lot of meanings.
To treat (pay for): If you say "I'll stand you some ice cream" - you stand [the person you're treating] [what you'll be treating to]. You need "some ice cream" or "an ice cream." (And before anyone gets upset about ice cream being uncountable, "an ice cream" would be understood to mean "a serving of ice cream.")
To like something, usually
To treat (pay for): If you say "I'll stand you some ice cream" - you stand [the person you're treating] [what you'll be treating to]. You need "some ice cream" or "an ice cream." (And before anyone gets upset about ice cream being uncountable, "an ice cream" would be understood to mean "a serving of ice cream.")
To like something, usually
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