From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstand to/at attentionstand to/at attentionSTANDif soldiers stand to attention, they stand up straight in neat lines → attention
Examples from the Corpus
stand to/at attention• The guide should have made us all stand to attention and salute.• As they approached, Schellenberg pulled Devlin to one side and stood at attention.• He stood at attention before me and the rest of my men.• It stands to attention, striking the air with a knowing finger.• When a teacher entered or left a room, we stood at attention until given permission to do otherwise.• As soon as you saw that you were about to be struck, you stood at attention and waited for the blows.• You stand at attention until assigned. 