- stand someone up
- stand someone up†1. to place someone into a standing position. •
I tried to stand him up, but he was just too tired.
•Let's try to stand up Timmy and get him awake.
2. to fail to show up for a meeting or a date. •He stood her up once too often, so she broke up with him.
•Tom stood up Mary once, and she never forgave him.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.