The United States said Friday that it would send an envoy to the region to try to broker an end to the fighting in South Ossetia, and the European Union, NATO and Germany all called on both sides to stand down. (source)
stand down
1 ~ (as sth) to leave a job or position: He stood down to make way for someone younger.
2 (of a witness) to leave the witness box/stand in court after giving evidence
(from OALD)
I don't think these definitions fit well. What does "stand down" in the example above mean?
stand down
1 ~ (as sth) to leave a job or position: He stood down to make way for someone younger.
2 (of a witness) to leave the witness box/stand in court after giving evidence
(from OALD)
I don't think these definitions fit well. What does "stand down" in the example above mean?