standoff

American  

[stand-awf, -of] / ˈstændˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

Or stand-off

noun

1. a standing off or apart; aloofness.

2. a tie or draw, as in a game.

3. something that counterbalances.

4. a prop for holding the top of a ladder away from the vertical surface against which it is leaning.

5. Electricity. an insulator that supports a conductor above a surface.

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adjective

1. standing off or apart; aloof; reserved.

   an uncordial and standoff manner.

standoff British  

/ ˈstændˌɒf /

noun

1. the act or an instance of standing off or apart

2. a deadlock or stalemate

3. any situation or disposition of forces that counterbalances or neutralizes

4. rugby short for stand-off half

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verb

1. (intr) to navigate a vessel so as to avoid the shore, an obstruction, etc

2. (tr) to keep or cause to keep at a distance

3. (intr) to reach a deadlock or stalemate

4. (tr) to dismiss (workers), esp temporarily

Usage

What does standoff mean? A standoff is a situation in which no progress can be made or people are prevented from taking further action. Close synonyms are stalemate and deadlock.Such a standoff often involves two or more opposing sides that refuse to budge, back down, or change their position. A political standoff is one in which both sides refuse to come to an agreement or compromise on some policy or course of action. In the context of policing, the word standoff refers to a situation in which a person refuses to be arrested but is keeping police away by threatening violence.In movies, the tense moment when two characters are pointing weapons at each other and waiting for the other to make a move is often called a standoff.Standoff can also refer to what happens when a game or other competition ends in a tie or without a winner being declared.Much less commonly, standoff can be used as an adjective to mean aloof, reserved, or unfriendly, as in The hostess greeted us in a distant, standoff manner. The adjective standoffish is more commonly used to mean the same thing.Standoff is sometimes hyphenated, as stand-off.Example: The old enemies stared at each other in a tense standoff, both of them refusing to give an inch.

Etymology

Origin of standoff

First recorded in 1830–40; noun, adj. use of verb phrase stand off

Example Sentences

The standoff between Newsom and Duffy began in June when Duffy carried out a nationwide audit into state programs that issued commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants who were authorized to work in the country.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think there’s a bit of a standoff here, where the sellers are not anxious and the buyers aren’t either,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carried out a series of immigration sweeps, including two downtown that sparked a tense standoff.

From Los Angeles Times

There has been a delay in releasing the funds from the sale of Chelsea FC, which are currently frozen in a British bank account, due to a standoff over how exactly they should be used.

From BBC

That is especially true, according to analysts, if Russia-Ukraine peace talks or a resolution to the U.S. standoff with Venezuela loosens restrictions on oil exports.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• deadlock
• impasse
• stalemate