defend your position

Meaning

This phrase means to justify, support, or protect your opinion, argument, or physical location against criticism or opposition. It is widely used in debates, academic discussions, workplace meetings, and competitive sports. The tone is assertive but not necessarily aggressive.

Examples

• During the debate, she had to defend her position against some very tough questions.

  During the debate, she had to defend her position against some very tough questions.

• You need to provide solid evidence to defend your position in this essay.

  You need to provide solid evidence to defend your position in this essay.

• He stood up during the meeting to defend his position on the new budget cuts.

  He stood up during the meeting to defend his position on the new budget cuts.

• In soccer, players must work together to defend their position near the goal.

  In soccer, players must work together to defend their position near the goal.

• It can be exhausting to constantly have to defend your position to skeptical colleagues.

  It can be exhausting to constantly have to defend your position to skeptical colleagues.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He defended his opinion with shouting.

  ✓ He defended his position by presenting facts.

  'Defend your position' implies using logical arguments or evidence, not emotional outbursts like shouting.

• ✗ You must protect your position against the argument.

  ✓ You must defend your position against the argument.

  While 'protect' is a synonym, 'defend your position' is the standard idiomatic collocation in debates and discussions.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Be prepared to ___ when the board members start asking questions.

  💡 Justify and support your viewpoint.

  Show answer

  defend your position

• The essay assignment requires you to choose a side and ___ with credible sources.

  💡 Support your main argument.

  Show answer

  defend your position