Supporters of the long-standing agreement say they are taking a principled stand in the public interest.
This was their chance to prove it, she said, "so one country doesn't take a principled stand and the others sign up the contracts."
She took a principled stand, he said, early enough to have a chance at altering events.
Clearly one should applaud someone who takes a principled stand when that could easily come with a cost.
Members of the Council acted with courage and took a principled stand.
Many other businesses have taken a principled stand against tobacco.
Others say they took a principled stand for fiscal responsibility.
The politician took a principled stand against his own party's position on the issue.
"Take a principled stand against companies which are doing business with the military regime of Burma."
That's called taking a principled stand, something not too often associated with the world of professional sports.