English
Etymology
From stand + off
Pronunciation
audio|en-us-standoff.ogg|Audio (US)
Verb
standoff
- To operate some distance from the object of the operation
- colloquial To become involved in a social confrontation, or conflict of interests. (To cause a stand-off is to undertake the action itself.)
Noun
standoff
- A device which maintains a fixed distance between two objects, especially between a surface and electrical wiring.
- colloquial A social confrontation, or conflict between persons (see above verb).
#:I don't want to get involved in the standoff between those two.
Alternative forms
:Stand off
:Stand-off (Adjective)
See also
standoffish
de:standoff
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