We will stand by … as long as it takes.
It may sound believable on day one. Two weeks later it will mean you haven’t done enough for 14 days. – Two months later … – Two years later …
But the sad truth is that the phrase stand by couldn’t be more elastic. Here are some of the meanings listed in Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries:
- to be present while something bad is happening but not do anything to stop it
- to be ready for action
- to help somebody or be friends with them, even in difficult situations
Clearly, it may refer to anything from “just standing there” to actually “doing something”. There is a reason it’s so favoured and overused by people giving press conferences.