Re: Annoying use of prepositions

>> >>> }Yes, "stand down" can be used in the sense of releasing
> >>> someone from }a state of readiness to serve (e.g. military,
> >>> fire service, etc.).
> >>> The opposite of "stand to" :)

> >> My dict. says the military orders are "stand easy" and
> >> "attention".

> > When soldiers stand easy, they stay where they are but can
> > adopt a relaxed posture. When they stand down, they leave the
> > parade ground and go about their business.
> fall out!  -  dismiss! (is this the same as "stand down"?)

Here are some slightly deviant meanings for 'stand down' and 'stand
to' from the 'Dictionary.com'.
stand-down
-noun 1. Military. a tem****ary cessation of offensive actions; cease-
fire; truce:
 a stand-down for the Christmas holidays.
2. a work stoppage or layoff.

Also, standdown.

 stand down, a. Law. to leave the witness stand.
b. to step aside; withdraw, as from a competition:
 I agreed to stand down so that she could run for the nomination
unopposed.
c. to leave or take out of active work or service:
 to stand down some of the ****ps in the fleet.

stand to, a. to continue to hold; persist in: to stand to one's
statement.
b. to keep at steadily: Stand to your rowing, men!
c. to wait in readiness; stand by: Stand to for action.