中英鸦片战争期间，曾经和林则徐联手抗英的广东水师提督关天培坚守虎门炮台，跟来犯的英军苦战，最后“炮门透水不得发(大炮入了水，不能发射)”，关天培杀身成仁(《清史稿·关天培传》)。他可以说是stick to his guns了。Stick to one's guns直译是“坚守他的大炮”，指炮兵在战场上受到敌军枪火攻击，依然不怕危险，坚守大炮继续作战。现在，这成语一般引伸解作坚持立场或立张，也作stand to one's guns。有些人把guns说作colours，指士兵坚守已方战旗(colours)，意思和stick/stand to one's guns相同，例如:I tried to persuade him to change his mind,but he stuck/stood to his guns/colours(我想劝他改变主意，可是，他怎样都不肯)。