stand off
Idioms-
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.”
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Put off, keep away, as in The police stood off the angry strikers . [Second half of 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Members of the Orange Order left Drumcree Church overnight - for the first time since the stand off began - but Deputy District Master Alastair Power returned on Wednesday morning.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
The stand off has spurred calls for diplomacy from regional actors and allies of the rival countries.
From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026
He bought pies from a fruit stand off Interstate 80 between San Francisco and Sacramento and delivered them as apologies to targets of his rants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2025
Head, who recovered from fractured thumb, and David Warner smashed New Zealand pace bowlers with an aggressive 175-run opening wicket stand off 117 balls.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 28, 2023
The others jump and twirl into and out of the poles while I stand off to the side.
From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
