standoff
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Alternative forms
[edit] Etymology
[edit] Pronunciation
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Audio (US) (file)
[edit] Noun
standoff (plural standoffs)
- A device which maintains a fixed distance between two objects, especially between a surface and a sign or electrical wiring.
- A deadlocked confrontation between antagonists (see stand off and verb below).
- I don't want to get involved in the standoff between those two.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Verb
standoff (third-person singular simple present stands off, present participle standing off, simple past and past participle stood off)
- Nonstandard spelling of stand off.
[edit] Usage notes
- For many English verb-particle idioms, including stand off, the plain form is sometimes written solid (in this case, as standoff). However, this is not usually considered correct, and generally does not occur in the other verb forms (such as standing off).
