'stand somebody up', just for dating?

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Mehrgan

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Hi there,

Is 'stand somebody up' just used for dating and when talking about the opposite sex? Any other phrasal verb meaning the same?



Thanks!
 

emsr2d2

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Hi there,

Is 'stand somebody up' just used for dating and when talking about the opposite sex? Any other phrasal verb meaning the same?



Thanks!

I guess it's possible to use it to refer to just another person not turning up for a pre-arranged meeting, but it is certainly more usual that it's used in the dating sense.

However, it would not only be used to refer to the opposite sex. Both heterosexual and homosexual people date, so any instance of the person you have arranged to meet for a date not turning up would be referred to as being stood up, regardless of your or their gender.

I can't think of another phrasal verb that means exactly the same thing.
 

Mehrgan

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I guess it's possible to use it to refer to just another person not turning up for a pre-arranged meeting, but it is certainly more usual that it's used in the dating sense.

However, it would not only be used to refer to the opposite sex. Both heterosexual and homosexual people date, so any instance of the person you have arranged to meet for a date not turning up would be referred to as being stood up, regardless of your or their gender.

I can't think of another phrasal verb that means exactly the same thing.



Many thanks. Indeed, the moment I was writing the question I wasn't thinking of homosexuals, and by the same sex I meant a normal appointment with anyone possible. I just thought there might be other more general terms referring to such situations.


Cheers! :)
 

emsr2d2

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NOT A TEACHER.

Yes, "blow off."

Interesting. This is used in BrE but if you say "He blew me off" in relation to a date or a meeting, it means that the person called/texted/emailed you and postponed the meeting, whereas if you're stood up, it usually means you have been left waiting by your date with no contact at all. Is that not the case in Canada?
 

Mehrgan

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And, isn't that supposed to be 'he blew me out'?


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emsr2d2

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Actually, both. "Blow someone out" and "blow someone off".
 

Barb_D

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In the US, you might blow off a party or other event by simply not going. The phrase with "out" isn't used at all.
 

Allen165

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Interesting. This is used in BrE but if you say "He blew me off" in relation to a date or a meeting, it means that the person called/texted/emailed you and postponed the meeting, whereas if you're stood up, it usually means you have been left waiting by your date with no contact at all. Is that not the case in Canada?

To my knowledge, "blow someone off" means to not show up to an arranged meeting, which can be a date. But it's very colloquial.
 
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