can't stand (someone or something)

can't stand (someone or something)

Cannot tolerate someone or something due to an aversion or a strong sense of disgust or dislike. Ugh, I can't stand obnoxious guys who always have to dominate the conversation. I could never be a doctor or nurse—I just can't stand the sight of blood. Now I'm just waiting to hear if I got into my first-choice school, and the uncertainty is killing me. I can't stand it!See also: stand

can't stand (the sight of) someone or something

 and can't stomach someone or somethingFig. [to be] unable to tolerate someone or something; disliking someone or something extremely. (Also with cannot.) I can't stand the sight of cooked carrots. Mr. Jones can't stomach the sight of blood. None of us can stand this place. Nobody can stand Tom when he smokes a cigar.See also: stand

can't stand

Also, can't abide or bear or stomach . Thoroughly dislike; be unable to put up with something or someone. For example, I can't stand the sight of her; she's obnoxious, or I can't bear to leave the country, or I can't stomach a filthy kitchen. The oldest of these synonymous expressions is can't abide, which Shakespeare used in 2 Henry IV (3:2): "She could not abide Master Shallow." Can't stand dates from the early 1600; can't bear dates from about 1700 and often but not always is used with an infinitive; can't stomach dates from the late 1600s and today is less common than the others. See also: stand

you, he, etc. can’t ˈstand somebody/something

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you, he, etc. can’t ˈstand the sight/sound of somebody/something

(informal) you, he, etc. dislikes or hates somebody/something or seeing/hearing somebody/something: If you can’t stand the sight of blood, you won’t make a very good nurse!I can’t stand the sight of her. OPPOSITE: think the world of somebody/somethingSee also: somebody, something, stand