Stand sb up Meaning & Examples: How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Stand sb up” Mean?

“Stand sb up” means to fail to meet someone for a planned appointment or date without informing them.

Introduction

The phrase “Stand sb up” is commonly used in everyday English, especially in social situations. It describes when someone does not show up for a meeting, date, or appointment without warning the other person. Understanding the “Stand sb up meaning” helps you recognize when someone is unreliable or disrespectful in social or professional contexts. This phrasal verb is informal and often expresses disappointment or frustration. Knowing how to use it correctly will improve your communication and help you sound more natural in English conversations.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Stand sb up (stand somebody up)
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To not meet someone as arranged without telling them

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Stand sb up” is a separable transitive phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (sb) between “stand” and “up” or after “up.”

• Subject + stand + object + up
  Example: She stood me up.
• Subject + stand + up + object
  Example: She stood up me. (Less common, usually avoided)

Most native speakers prefer the first structure, placing the object between the verb and particle.

How to Use Stand sb up?

You use “stand sb up” when talking about someone missing a meeting, date, or appointment without any notice. It often implies that the person who was stood up feels disappointed or upset.

This phrasal verb is informal and mostly used in spoken English or casual writing. It fits well in stories, personal experiences, and conversations about relationships or social plans.

Examples

Imagine you waited for a friend at a café, but they never came or called. You could say:

• He stood me up yesterday, and I was really upset.
• She promised to meet me but stood me up without any explanation.
• Don’t stand me up again; I don’t like waiting alone.
• They stood us up at the restaurant, so we left after 30 minutes.
• It’s rude to stand someone up, especially on a first date.

These examples show “stand sb up in a sentence” used naturally.

Common Mistakes

People sometimes confuse “stand sb up” with other phrasal verbs or use incorrect word order. Here are some common errors:

• Incorrect: She stood up me at the party.
  Correct: She stood me up at the party.
• Incorrect: He stood me down yesterday.
  Correct: He stood me up yesterday.
• Incorrect: I was stood up by him.
  Correct: I was stood up by him. (This passive form is correct but less common.)

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrasal verbs include “stand up” and “stand down,” but they have different meanings:

• Stand up: Can mean to rise to a standing position or to support someone.
  Example: Please stand up when the teacher enters.
• Stand down: Means to withdraw or resign.
  Example: The officer was asked to stand down.

Synonyms for “stand sb up” include “no-show” (noun) and “ditch” (informal). However, “ditch” is more casual and sometimes rude.

Common Collocations

When using “stand sb up,” it often pairs with certain nouns referring to people or meetings:

• Stand a date up: Fail to meet someone for a date.
• Stand a friend up: Not show up for a planned meeting with a friend.
• Stand a partner up: Miss an appointment with a romantic partner.
• Stand a client up: Miss a business meeting or appointment.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of stand sb up:

• Stand Up To Sth
• Stand Up To Sb
• Stand By Sth
• Stand By Sb
• Stand Over Sb

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “stand sb up”:

Anna: Did Mark come to the café?

Ben: No, he stood me up again! I waited for 30 minutes.

Anna: That’s so rude! Did he call or text?

Ben: No, not a word. I don’t think I’ll ask him again.

Practice

Try to complete the sentence with the correct form of “stand sb up”:

• She promised to meet me, but she _______ me _______.
• They were really upset because their date _______ them _______.

Answers:

• stood me up
• stood up

FAQ

• What does “stand sb up” mean?
  It means to not meet someone as planned without telling them.
• Is “stand sb up” formal or informal?
  It is informal and used mostly in casual conversations.
• Can “stand sb up” be used in business?
  Yes, but it sounds informal; better to say “missed the appointment.”
• Is “stand sb up” separable?
  Yes, you can place the object between “stand” and “up.”
• What is a synonym for “stand sb up”?
  “No-show” is a noun synonym; “ditch” is an informal verb synonym.