how matters stand meaning in English

情况怎么样,怎么回事
实际情况如何

He knocked the bottom out of the rumours by explaining how matters stood .
他说明了真实情况，驳斥了谣言。
Personally , he was of opinion that he had nothing to fear , yet he thought it advisable to send somebody else first to see how matters stood
我个人来说，他的意见，他已没有什么可怕，但他认为不宜送别人首先要看看如何事宜原样。
As tess grew older , and began to see how matters stood , she felt quite a malthusian towards her mother for thoughtlessly giving her so many little sisters and brothers , when it was such a trouble to nurse and provide for them
苔丝渐渐地长大了，开始懂事了，这时候，她感到自己就像是一个马尔萨斯的门徒，来看待她母亲糊里糊涂地给她生下的一群弟弟妹妹了，因为养育他们照顾他们是一件十分麻烦的事。