English

Verb

stand pat

1. (poker) To play one's hand without drawing any more cards.
   • 1920, Peter B. Kyne, The Understanding Heart, Chapter IV

     With a mixed hand and the highest card the curse of Scotland, I've seen that man stand pat in a game with four millionaire mining men.

2. (idiomatic) To resist changes.
   • 2012, "Asia's Local Growth Dilemma", Wall Street Journal, by Alex Frangos, 21st of July:

     China has cut rates and allowed banks to boost lending, while some countries, such as South Korea have stood pat, fearful that inflation pressures could reignite.

3. (intransitive, blackjack) To stop hitting.

   After getting a hand of 20, the player stood pat.

Derived terms

• standpatism, standpattism
• standpatter

References

1. ↑ Safire's Political Dictionary, William Safire, Oxford University Press, Mar 31, 2008; page 700