stay behind

Definitions

1. 1

   Alternative form of stay-behind.

   • Pleasant prospect for us, who are sure to be amongst the unlucky stay behinds!
   • “[…]Think there may be some bugs left. Deserters, stay behinds, whatever.”
   • That creates very few “dead spots” for potential thieves to avoid sensors and helps deter “stay behinds”: skulkers who come into the room with a group but remain when others leave.
2. 2

   To remain where one is, whilst others leave.

   • If a twin goes off on a spaceship for a long trip at nearly the speed of light, that twin would be much younger on return to earth than the twin who stayed behind (Fock, 1964; French, 1968; Hawking, 1988; Young, 1992).
   • Much as Tra wanted to stay behind, as commander of the region, it was his duty to organize and lead the troops going to the North.
3. 3

   To remain in a classroom or school at the end of teaching, especially to receive…

   To remain in a classroom or school at the end of teaching, especially to receive punishment.

   • One day I had to stay behind after my boxing class, and I'd just been told that I was a ‘disgrace to the traditions of the boxing hall’.
4. ›+ 1 more definitionshow fewer

   1. 4

      Used other than figuratively or idiomatically

      Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see stay, behind.

      • If you can, sprint ahead and stay ahead — otherwise slow down and stay well behind
      • Teamwork is important throughout any school organisation. When people work in isolation, they tend to stay behind a closed door, locked in with their pupils.

The neighborhood

• antonymleave