становиться стеной

• ВСТАВАТЬ/ВСТАТЬ (СТАНОВИТЬСЯ/СТАТЬ) СТЕНОЙ{{}}

[VP]

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1. становиться стеной за кого-что [subj: human (usu. pl) or collect]

⇒ to stand united behind and strongly support, defend s.o. or sth.:

- Х-ы встали стеной за Y-a - Xs stood up for Y;

- Xs made a stand for Y;

- Xs gave their full support (backing) to Y;

- Xs stuck by Y.

     ♦ Чернова хотели уволить, но рабочие встали за него стеной. They wanted to fire Chernov, but the workers stood up for him.

2. [subj: human]

⇒ to take (and maintain) a strong unyielding position on some matter:

- X встал стеной{{}}≈ X took a (firm) stand;

- X put his foot down;

- X stood his ground.

     ♦ ...Кончились приданые деньги. Пришлось продать граммофон... Скоро проели и граммофон. Платон продал кровать... Скоро прожили и кроватные деньги. Платон замахнулся было на швейную машину, но тут уж Анна Савишна встала стеной: "Не отдам!" (Грекова 3). ...The dowry ran out and they [Platon and Anna Savishna] had to sell the gramophone. ... Soon they had run through that money, and Platon sold [the bed]. ... Soon they had gone through the money from the bed, and Platon was about to go after the sewing machine. But here Anna Savishna stood her ground. ..."I won't give it up!" (3a).