stood her up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stood her up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where someone fails to meet another person for a planned date or appointment, leaving them waiting. Example: "He promised to take her out for dinner, but he stood her up, and she was left waiting at the restaurant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

(He stood her up, complaining of a backache).

The New Yorker

For instance, my friend has dated a man who has stood her up a few times.

The New York Times

A dashing Italian bachelor once stood her up for a date.

The New Yorker

Now she was dating Chuck, a pilot, who stood her up often.

The New Yorker

— a replica of the flower-filled May basket in which he delivered her an engagement ring (never mind that he had stood her up for lunch that day).

The New Yorker

I took my jilting like a man, although the Queen would not have noticed if Miller had stood her up instead of me.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

When he stands her up and offers a lame excuse, she has to decide whether to believe him.

The Economist

We just thought: Stand her up, she'll walk; stand her up, she'll walk.

Vice

Stand her up, never text her, it doesn't matter.

Huffington Post

Agree to go lingerie shopping with Scarlett Johansson and then stand her up.

Huffington Post

We just could not convince dad to stand her up and she'd walk.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "stood her up", ensure the context clearly indicates a prior arrangement or expectation of a meeting. This avoids misinterpretation, making it clear that the person intentionally missed a date or appointment.

Common error

Avoid using "stood her up" in situations where the lack of meeting was due to unforeseen circumstances or mutual agreement. The phrase implies a deliberate choice to not attend without informing the other person, which can be misleading if the absence was unintentional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stood her up" functions as a phrasal verb expressing the action of failing to meet someone for a date or appointment, often implying a lack of consideration. Ludwig AI indicates this usage is correct and common.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stood her up" is a common and grammatically correct phrasal verb used to describe the act of failing to meet someone for a date or appointment, often implying a lack of respect or consideration. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, though it is absent in formal business settings. While semantically similar phrases like "didn't show up for her" or "left her waiting" exist, they carry slightly different connotations. When using "stood her up", ensure the context makes it clear that a prior arrangement was in place. Keep in mind that the phrase implies intention; thus, it is crucial to avoid its use in situations where the absence was unintentional.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

didn't show up for her

Focuses on the act of not appearing, removing the confrontational implication.

left her waiting

Emphasizes the act of leaving someone in anticipation, portraying a sense of abandonment.

no-showed on her

A more modern, informal term for failing to appear for a date.

didn't keep the appointment with her

A formal way of expressing the failure to meet.

failed to meet her

A straightforward way to state the non-occurrence of a meeting.

left her hanging

This idiom implies a careless disregard for the other person's feelings and expectations.

bailed on her

Informal term suggesting a last-minute decision to cancel.

ditched her

Implies a more deliberate and disrespectful abandonment.

broke the date with her

Focuses on the broken commitment rather than the act of failing to appear.

left her stood up

This alternative maintains the core meaning but uses a slightly altered structure.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "stood her up"?

Saying someone "stood her up" means they failed to show up for a date or appointment without prior notice, leaving the other person waiting.

What can I say instead of "stood her up"?

You can use alternatives like "didn't show up for her", "left her waiting", or "bailed on her" depending on the context.

Is "stood her up" grammatically correct?

Yes, "stood her up" is grammatically correct and a common idiom in English.

What's the difference between "stood her up" and "ditched her"?

"Stood her up" implies a simple failure to appear, while "ditched her" suggests a more deliberate and disrespectful abandonment.