Akademik

С-592

СТОЯТЬ СТОЛБОМ (КАК СТОЛБ) coll VP subj: human to stand unmoving, usu. with a vacant look on one's face

X стоял столбом = X stood motionless (stock-still)

X stood there like a dummy (a statue) X stood as if rooted to the spot (in limited contexts) X stood (there) gaping.

Большой русско-английский фразеологический словарь. — М.: ACT-ПРЕСС КНИГА. С.И. Лубенская. 2004.