stand out
No objectThis verb takes no object at all.
How to say it
Stress the particle, not the verb: stand OUT. Saying “STAND out” is the clearest learner tell — the verb stays light and the particle carries the beat.
Link across the gap. The final /d/ of “stand” moves onto the particle and starts its syllable: “stand out” is said “stan-dout”. Pausing between the words is what makes phrasal verbs sound recited rather than spoken.
Verb vs noun
As a noun the stress flips to the front: the verb is stand OUT, the noun is STANDOUT. Same two words, different beat — “to stand OUT” is the action, “a standout” is the thing. Getting this backwards makes the sentence land oddly even when every sound is right.
What it means
To be noticeably different or better than others.
- “Her application stood out immediately.”
- “In a bright red coat, he really stood out.”
Similar: be conspicuous, shine