nothing stood up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nothing stood up" is grammatically correct but may not be commonly used in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to express that nothing was able to rise, succeed, or be effective in a particular situation. Example: "In the face of adversity, nothing stood up to the challenges we encountered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Nothing stood up to the picture.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

She said nothing but stood up on the branch and spread her wings out behind her, which amazed and frightened me.

The New Yorker

It was so wet that I realized all my agonizing over what to wear had been a joke, nothing would have stood up to this wet onslaught.

Huffington Post

For several minutes he was immobile, chest heaving, and then, as if nothing had happened, he stood up and walked steadily toward his herd in the distance.

Huffington Post

Nothing special, and certainly nothing to stand up to that mighty pho.

The New York Times

With nothing but the clothes he stood up in, he arrived at Victoria station on July 19 , 1898 and made for the Grosvenor Hotel.

The Guardian - Books

He was backed up by the daughter of Gujarati immigrants who arrived in our country from East Africa with nothing except the clothes they stood up in, Priti Patel… …and the first speaker was Sajid Javid, whose father came here from Pakistan to drive the buses.

Independent

Many had nothing more than the clothes they stood up in and were sleeping out under the stars.

The Guardian

He and his friend stood up and heard nothing, but when they put their ears on the ground Cole told his friend, "Our boys are fighting".

The New York Times

He said Salman had done nothing to stand up for the players involved at a time when he was head of the Bahrain FA.

The Guardian - Sport

He clearly did nothing to stand up for and protect the sports people and he doesn't want to discuss it," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "nothing stood up", ensure the context clearly indicates what "nothing" refers to. This provides clarity and prevents ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "nothing stood up" when you actually mean a specific attempt or solution failed. "Nothing" implies a broader, more encompassing lack of success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nothing stood up" functions as a statement indicating the absence of resistance, success, or prominence in a given situation. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and the examples reinforce its role in negating any successful opposition.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nothing stood up" is a grammatically correct way to convey a lack of success or resistance in a particular scenario. According to Ludwig, this phrase is primarily found in news and media contexts. The absence of resistance is its primary connotation. When considering alternatives, it is important to consider the nuances of your meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nothing prevailed

Focuses on the lack of overall success or dominance, instead of the act of rising or withstanding.

nothing resisted

Emphasizes the absence of opposition or resistance against a force or situation.

nothing withstood

Highlights the inability to endure or survive a challenge or test.

nothing held up

Focuses on the failure to maintain a standard or expectation over time.

nothing emerged

Stresses the lack of appearance or development of something.

nothing arose

Implies that no issues or challenges came into being.

nothing materialized

Focuses on the failure of something to become real or concrete.

nothing proved effective

Highlights the inefficacy of all attempts or measures.

nothing was successful

Emphasizes the absence of positive outcomes or achievements.

nothing could compete

Highlights the inability to match or surpass something else in quality or strength.

FAQs

How can I use "nothing stood up" in a sentence?

Use "nothing stood up" to express that no effort, object, or strategy was able to rise, succeed, or be effective in a particular situation. For example: "Against the overwhelming evidence, "nothing stood up" to scrutiny."

What can I say instead of "nothing stood up"?

You can use alternatives like "nothing prevailed", "nothing resisted", or "nothing withstood" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct: "nothing stood up" or "nothing stands up"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they differ in tense. "Nothing stood up" refers to a past event or situation, while "nothing stands up" refers to a general or ongoing situation.

What's the difference between "nothing stood up" and "nothing held up"?

"Nothing stood up" implies a failure to rise or emerge effectively in a specific instance. "Nothing held up", on the other hand, suggests a failure to maintain a standard or expectation over time; the alternative could be used to imply that something initially seemed valid but eventually failed to hold true.