stand tall

Verb

stand tall (third-person singular simple present stands tall, present participle standing tall, simple past and past participle stood tall)

1. (idiomatic) To behave in a brave, proud, or unyielding manner, without retreating from confrontation, danger, or adversity.
   • "I'll not sing one note!" she declared, standing tall, "not one single note!"1892, Margaret Sidney, chapter 9, in Five Little Peppers Grown Up
   • But there was beauty in her, and an inner strength that would allow her to stand tall and accept last night's phone call.1986, Fern Michaels, Texas Heat, →ISBN, page 300

   Synonyms:

   walk tall