Why do we say this?

Posted by R. Berg on January 13, 2004

In Reply to: Why do we say this? posted by Shae on January 12, 2004

: : : "I can't stand you." In all truth it does'nt make much sense.

: : One definition of stand, according to M-W online:

: : c : to endure the presence or personality of

: Yep. My version of the Compact OED has: STAND, 10; tolerate, withstand, or like: 'I can't stand it.'

A similar and broader sense of "stand" is "endure" used in an impersonal way, as in "These vines will stand winter temperatures as low as 25 degrees."