standoff
or stand-off
[ stand-awf, -of ]
/ ˈstændˌɔf, -ˌɒf /
noun
a standing off or apart; aloofness.
a tie or draw, as in a game.
something that counterbalances.
a prop for holding the top of a ladder away from the vertical surface against which it is leaning.
Electricity.
an insulator that supports a conductor above a surface.
adjective
standing off or apart; aloof; reserved: an uncordial and standoff manner.
Origin of standoff
First recorded in 1830–40; noun, adj. use of verb phrase
stand off
Words nearby standoff
Definition for stand off (2 of 2)
Origin of stand
before 900; Middle English
standen (v.), Old English
standan; cognate with Old Saxon
standan, Middle Dutch
standen, Old High German
stantan, standa, standan; akin to Latin
stāre to stand,
sistere, Greek
histánai to make stand, Sanskrit
sthā to stand, Old Irish
at-tá (he) is
synonym study for stand
25. See
bear1.
British Dictionary definitions for stand off (1 of 2)
standoff
/ (ˈstændˌɒf) /
noun
verb stand off (adverb)
British Dictionary definitions for stand off (2 of 2)
stand
/ (stænd) /
verb stands, standing or stood (mainly intr)
noun
Derived forms of stand
stander, nounWord Origin for stand
Old English
standan; related to Old Norse
standa, Old High German
stantan, Latin
stāre to stand; see
stead
Idioms and Phrases with stand off (1 of 2)
stand off
Stay at a distance, remain apart, as in Carol stood off from the others. [First half of 1600s] This usage gave rise to the adjective standoffish for “aloof” or “reserved in a haughty way.”
Put off, keep away, as in The police stood off the angry strikers. [Second half of 1800s]
Idioms and Phrases with stand off (2 of 2)
stand