Meaning of stand in the gate | Babel Free

Definitions

To occupy a place or position of advantage, power, or defence.

dated, idiomatic

Examples

“"What brings you to my poor door?" she cried, speaking high through her nose. "I cannot bar it. The males of my house are dead and buried; I have neither son nor husband to stand in the gate for me; any beggar can pluck me by the baird[2]—and a baird there is, and that's the worst of it yet!" she added partly to herself.”

CEFR level