Meaning

A loyal and reliable friend.

Origin

The allusion is to someone who would be prepared to stand up and fight on your side if called on, i.e. one who, in the words of the earlier (late 19th century) phrase, would 'stand up and be counted'.

The phrase is American. The earliest citation is in the Pennsylvania newspaper The Charleroi Mail, April 1935:
"But he seems to be a stand up guy and loyalty, with him, seems to be less a virtue than obsession."
by Dixon St. Grottlesex. November 5, 2009
Get the stand up guy mug.
trustworthy fella you can count on in any predicament
Oh course James Bridges can be counted on if you are in a bind. After all, he IS a stand up guy.
by F0ShizzleNizzle December 15, 2010
Get the stand up guy mug.
The style/type of beer often consumed while standing up. These beer types are commonly characterized by:

- Heavy marketing to males
- Lower cost (less expensive)
- Higher volume (often purchased in bulk, i.e. 24-packs)

Standing-up beer can be consumed in a seated environment. "Standing up" is not an absolute requirement.

Standing-up beer is in direct contrast to sitting-down beer.
Common scenarios where standing-up beer is found:

- Outdoor barbecues
- Tailgating
- Bowling alleys
- NASCAR events
- Mowing the lawn
by beer-me September 16, 2006
Get the standing-up beer mug.
A performer who relies on cheap shots at minorities and generally being an asshole for attention.

Often mistaken for comedians, who in contrast are actually funny and talented because their jokes do not punch down.
Louis C. K. gets a lot of attention by being a stand-up edgelord.
by Starcrashr October 31, 2019
Get the stand-up edgelord mug.
A Bullshit Artist!!

(From the Mel Brooks movie "History of the World, part one.")
Unemployment Office Person: "Name and occupation?"

Comicus: "Comicus, Stand-up Philosopher."

Unemployment Office Person: "A what?"

Comicus: "A Stand-up Philosopher. I take the collasence of daily life and produce anectdotes that have synonymous meaning with various people."

Unemployment Office Person: "Oh. A bullshit artist!"

Comicus: "Uh...Yeah."

Unemployment Office Person: "Well, did you bullshit today? Did you try to bullshit today? Try harder or we'll have to cut-off you payments. Next please!"
by Carl J. Maltese April 8, 2007
Get the Stand-up philosopher mug.
A youtube video, being performed live infront of a audience.
Dude, are you going to youtube live?

Yeah, I heard livelavalive are doing stand up video!
by Cardboardtasteslikeeggs November 1, 2009
Get the Stand up video mug.
A school in which the primary lesson is the stand up.
Teacher: "Welcome to standing up school"

Student: *falls flat on face*

Teacher: "Aaand you failed"
by Wassup62 September 1, 2020
Get the Standing up school mug.