standoff
or stand-off
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.
standing off or apart; aloof; reserved: an uncordial and standoff manner.
Origin of standoff
1Words Nearby standoff
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use standoff in a sentence
Notably, many moderates upset with Pelosi have refused to call her out by name – and make it a point criticize both GOP and Democratic leaders for the coronavirus talk standoff.
Trump moves closer to Pelosi in economic aid talks, and House speaker must decide next move | Rachael Bade, Erica Werner | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostThe proposed partnership, floated over the weekend, had seemed an ingenious solution for extricating the app, which counts more than 100 million American users, from a high-stakes standoff between Washington and Beijing.
Its continued connected TV distribution standoffs with Amazon and Roku.
As AT&T considers downsizing its media business, whither WarnerMedia? | Tim Peterson | September 2, 2020 | DigidayIt could even come down to an old-fashioned standoff bidding war on the floor of the City Council chambers.
What Power San Diego Has Over Its Power Company | MacKenzie Elmer | August 4, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoThe standoff between NBCU and the CTV platforms resembles the distribution disputes between traditional pay-TV providers and TV networks.
Shut out of Fire TV and Roku, Peacock is the latest example of the arrival power moves to streaming | Tim Peterson | July 15, 2020 | Digiday
He was threatening to immolate both of them when police ended a standoff by grabbing him.
Indiana Serial Killer’s Confession Was Just the Start | Michael Daly | October 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe two countries were eyeball to eyeball in a tense standoff for almost a year.
Ex-MMA fighter Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller live-tweeted a standoff with police over domestic violence charges.
The MMA Fighters Have Gone Crazy: ‘Mayhem’ Miller the Latest in a Long Line of Psycho Pugilists | Robert Silverman | October 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFaced with this opponent, the United States has a variety of military options for using its aerial and standoff firepower.
Who the U.S. Should Really Hit in ISIS | Daniel Trombly, Yasir Abbas | September 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWe saw this during the recent standoff between Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and federal officers.
Home-Grown, Right-Wing Terrorism: The Hate the GOP Refuses to See | Dean Obeidallah | June 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThere should not be too fine a point, however, in belaboring differences with the other examples in this regard over standoff.
Shock and Awe | Harlan K. UllmanIt was a standoff, by my cooking and doing other camp duties and marketing our products.
The Adventures of Two Alabama Boys | H. J. Crumpton and Washington Bryan CrumptonMy bosses they all like me, they say I am hard to beat; I give them the bold standoff, you bet I have got the cheek.
Cowboy Songs | VariousBut the court will know that you have as much interest in lying as I have, and itll just be a standoff.
The Radio Boys at Mountain Pass | Allen ChapmanShe was as plucky as any thing, and was putting up a great standoff when we got in our licks.
Three Little Women | Gabrielle E. Jackson
British Dictionary definitions for standoff
/ (ˈstændˌɒf) /
US and Canadian the act or an instance of standing off or apart
a deadlock or stalemate
any situation or disposition of forces that counterbalances or neutralizes
rugby short for stand-off half
(intr) to navigate a vessel so as to avoid the shore, an obstruction, etc
(tr) to keep or cause to keep at a distance
(intr) to reach a deadlock or stalemate
(tr) to dismiss (workers), esp temporarily
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with standoff
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.”
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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