Bystander, stand by...

[Jane]

What do these two words translate into in Spainish?
Bystander.
Stand by.

Thanks.

[Rusty]

Bystander:
persona, espectador, curioso, mirón, circunstante, testigo

Stand by (while something bad is happening):
quedarse con brazos cruzados, estar presente sin intervenir, permanecer sin hacer nada

Stand by (support, back):
apoyar, respaldar

Stand by (be near someone):
pararse/quedarse junto a alguien, pararse/quedarse cerca de alguien

[Tomisimo]

Thumbs up to Rusty, he's the human dictionary!

Stand by (while something bad is happening) could also be (in some cases) hacerse de la vista gorda.

[poli]

Mirón is a bad choice for innocent bystander. Mirón means voyeur or
peeping tom according to what I've been told. Mirón is a bystander perhaps, but not very innocent.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

Stand by (while something bad is happening) could also be (in some cases) hacerse de la vista gorda.

Good one, David!

[María José]

I say hacer la vista gorda.

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by Gemma

I say hacer la vista gorda.

Must be yet another difference between Mexico and Spain. In Mexico it's reflexive No te hagas de la vista gorda.

I looked it up on <snip> and this is what they came up with 1. Word:- bystander
Pronunciation:- [bai-stan-dar]
Meaning(s):- s. Mirón, mirador; uno que está presente. They opened fire, killing innocent bystanders, abrieron fuego y mataron a varias personas inocentes o a varios transeúntes.

1. Word:- stand by
Pronunciation:-
Meaning(s):- sostener, favorecer, ayudar, auxiliar; atenerse a una cosa, contar con; hallarse presente sin tomar parte en lo que se hace; estar cerca, quedarse allí; sostenerse o apoyarse. (Mar.) Velar, estar listo, mantenerse listo. To stand by an award, sujetarse al juicio de árbitros. To stand by itself, estar solo o apartado. To stand by the halliards, (Mar.) velar la driza. I stood by at the operation, yo asistí a la operación; me hallaba presente. Stand by me, esté usted a mi lado; ayúdeme usted.