Hi Practicar, When someone or an organisation "stands firm" on an issue, his/her/its opinion on that issue will not change, even in the face of pressure, protest or opposition. Usually, someone stands firm due to a personal conviction, religious doctrine or vested financial interests. For example: The church council has decided that it will never be in favour of divorce, and it is unlikely to change its view, come what may. When we travel on an alternate path that is shorter, we take a "short cut" and save some previous time. This phrase is also used when we find an easier, more convenient way to complete a task. For example: You took a short cut across the fields. Otherwise, you would have taken more time to walk around the field to the other side. Hope this helps. Cheers, Lance

Standing firm means keeping the same position/opinion about some issue. Short cut means taking a shorter path/route from one place to another.