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.
Words nearby standoff
Origin of standoff
First recorded in 1830–40; noun, adj. use of verb phrase stand off
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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
In addition to the idioms beginning with stand
- stand a chance
- stand at ease
- stand by
- stand corrected
- stand down
- stand fast
- stand for
- stand guard
- stand in awe
- stand in for
- standing joke
- standing on one's head
- stand in good stead
- standing order
- stand off
- stand on
- stand one's ground
- stand on one's own feet
- stand out
- stand over
- stand pat
- stand still for
- stand the gaff
- stand the sight of
- stand to reason
- stand up
- stand up and be counted
- stand up for
- stand up to
- stand up with
also see:
- can't stand the sight of
- heart misses a beat (stands still)
- (stand) in awe of
- it stands to reason
- know where one stands
- make a stand
- make one's hair stand on end
- not have (stand) an earthly chance
- take a stand
- without a leg to stand on
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.