I encountered this phrase in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esben_and_the_witch
His brothers did not stand to attention for Sir Red…
Learn English – What does “stand to attention for somebody” mean
meaningphrases
Related Solutions
This expression is meant to conjure up the idea of a bloodthirsty pack of carnivores (here the audience of a speech).
The orator takes a fast track to popularity by throwing to the crowd the victim they expect. For instance he might vilify a personality or a piece of legislation he knows they dislike particularly.
He's talking about the line as a plotted line on a graph. At one point the U.S. had been putting up surpluses, but expenditures rose to cancel those out and put the country into a deficit again. The "line" turned and went below even — right at around the point where Bush passed his tax cuts and engaged us in two costly wars.
Here's the line he's talking about:
And you can read more about it.
Best Answer
Stand at attention or stand to attention both mean "assume a military posture of motionless alertness". You may also see come to attention (but never *come at attention). In the context you provide it means the brothers did not show militaristic respect for Sir Red.
The form stand at attention is more often found in the modern (US) military, but to attention is not incorrect and both may be heard in other countries or in historical usage.