stand a bit of dying

[thetazuo]

“I remember,” said Yronwood. “Hungerford, Straw, that lot. Some of them weren’t so bad for sellswords. Others, well, might be they could stand a bit of dying. What of them?”

Excerpt From
A Dance with Dragons

Context: Hungerford, Straw, and “others” are mercenaries/sellswords

Hi. What does the bold part mean?
Thank you.

 

[AnythingGoes]

I understand it as I wouldn't mind if they died.

 

[sound shift]

Yes - the implication being that they were insignificant.

 

[thetazuo]

Thank you both. So what does “stand” mean here?

 

[sound shift]

"Tolerate".

 

[thetazuo]

Thank you again. I get it.

 

[Barque]

You could read it as They could do with a bit of dying, meaning death is something that would be good for them.

 

[london calling]

I'm really not sure about this. I'd be tempted to read it as meaning that seeing soldiers dying around them wouldn't be a problem for them.

 

[PaulQ]

Hi. What does the bold part mean?

I'm really not sure about this. I'd be tempted to read it as meaning that seeing soldiers dying around them wouldn't be a problem for them.

I like london calling's idea but the bold part means that you have not given enough context. What was the problem with the other "sellswords"?

 

[Barque]

Since he compares them to others who he says "weren't so bad for sellswords", it seems to suggest something derogatory. But LC's interpretation is possible. Perhaps Thetazuo will provide more background.

 

[kentix]

To me it means the speaker didn't think much of them. Whether they lived or died he didn't care, but if some of them died at least he would have less of them, the bad type, to deal with.