2 archaic the way in which an item of clothing fits someone:the sit of her frock
ზმნა
Universal
1 [no object] adopt or be in a position in which one’s weight is supported by one’s buttocks rather than one’s feet and one’s back is upright:you’d better sit downI sat next to him at dinner
[with object] cause (someone) to sit:I sat the baby on my lap
[no object] (of an animal) rest with the hind legs bent and the body close to the ground:it is important for a dog to sit when instructed
[with object] ride or keep one’s seat on (a horse):have you never sat a horse before?
[with object] (of a table, room, or building) be large enough for (a specified number of seated people):the chapel sat about 3,000 people
(sit for) pose, typically in a seated position, for (an artist or photographer):Walter Deverell asked her to sit for him
[with object]North American not use (a player) in a game:the manager must decide who to sit in the World Series
2 [no object, with adverbial of place] be or remain in a particular position or state:the fridge was sitting in a pool of water
[with adverbial] (of an item of clothing) fit a person well or badly as specified:the blue uniform sat well on his big frame
(sit with) be harmonious with:his shyness doesn’t sit easily with Hollywood tradition
3 [no object] (of a parliament, committee, court of law, etc.) be engaged in its business:Parliament continued sitting until March 16
serve as a member of a council, jury, or other official body:they were determined that women jurists should sit on the tribunal
(sit for) British be the Member of Parliament for (a particular constituency):since the war members of several parties have sat for Anglesey
4 [with object]British take (an examination):pupils are required to sit nine subjects at GCSE [no object]:he was about to sit for his Cambridge entrance exam
5 [no object, in combination] live in someone’s house while they are away and look after their pet or pets:Fenella had been cat-sitting for meSee also babysit.
6 [no object] (of a bird) rest on a branch; perch:the robin sat on a low branch
(of a bird) remain on its nest to incubate its egg: (as adjective sitting)a sitting hen
sit at someone's feet
be someone’s pupil or follower:he returned to Venice to sit at the feet of Monteverdi
take no action:they lost office largely because their traditional supporters sat on their hands and stayed at home
sit (heavy) on the stomach
(of food) take a long time to be digested.
sit on someone's tail
drive extremely close behind another vehicle, typically while waiting for a chance to overtake.
sit tight
informal
remain firmly in one’s place:this shouldn’t take long—just sit tight
refrain from taking action or changing one’s mind:we’re advising our clients to sit tight and neither to buy nor sell
sit up (and take notice)
informal suddenly start paying attention or have one’s interest aroused:young people are voting with their feet—employers will have to sit up and take notice
sit back
relax:sit back and enjoy the music
take no action; choose not to become involved:I can’t just sit back and let Liz get on with it
sit by
take no action in order to prevent something undesirable from occurring:I’m not going to sit by and let an innocent man go to jail
sit down
1 archaic encamp outside a city in order to besiege it:with a large force he sat down before Ravenna
2British accept or put up with an unwelcome situation or development:if they think I’m going to sit down under it, they can think again
sit in
1(of a group of people) occupy a place as a form of protest:students have been sitting in on and off this week
2attend a meeting or discussion without taking an active part in it:I sat in on a training session for therapists
sit in for
temporarily carry out the duties of (another person):he’s sitting in for the regular breakfast show disc jockey
sit on
informal
1fail to deal with:she sat on the article until a deadline galvanized her into putting words to paper
2subdue (someone), typically by saying something intended to discomfit or embarrass them:someone should have sat on him when he was young
suppress (something):I want this story sat on
sit something out
not take part in a particular event or activity:he had to sit out Sheffield Wednesday’s UEFA Cup game
wait without moving or taking action until a particular unwelcome situation or process is over:most of the workers seem to be sitting the crisis out, waiting to see what will happen
sit through
stay until the end of (a tedious or lengthy meeting or performance):the movie is the worst film I have sat through this year
sit up (or sit someone up)
1move (or cause someone to move) from a lying or slouching to a sitting position:Amy sat up and rubbed her eyesI’ll sit you up on the pillows
2refrain from going to bed until a later time than usual:we sat up late to watch a horror film
