постоять за себя

• ПОСТОЯТЬ ЗА СЕБЯ coll

[VP; subj: human; often infin with уметь, мочь, готов etc]

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⇒ to defend o.s. against attack, opposition, criticism etc:

- X умеет постоять за себя{{}}≈ X can (knows how to) stand (stick) up for himself;

- X can look after (take care of) himself;

- [in limited contexts] X is man (woman) enough to stand (stick) up for himself (herself).

     ♦ Мне нравилась наивная девушка, которая за себя постоять умела... (Герцен 1). I liked the simple-hearted girl who knew how to stand up for herself, (1a).

     ♦ "Не связывайся, Фатима. Сама за себя постою" (Пастернак 1). "Don't you meddle in this, Fatima, I can look after myself" (1a).

     ♦ Мальчики в училище дразнили Иосифа: отец не мог постоять за себя (Рыбаков 2). The boys in school [teased Josef], saying that his father hadn't been man enough to stand up for himself (2a)