standoffishness

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From standoffish +‎ -ness.

Noun

[edit]

standoffishness (uncountable)

  1. The state, quality, or condition of being standoffish or aloof and unsociable; aloofness.
    • 2004, Kate Fox, “Rules of Sex”, in Watching the English, Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN, page 336:
      Many of the seemingly bizarre courtship practices of English males—the cautiousness, reserve and apparent stand-offishness that foreign females complain about—are characteristic features of ‘negative politeness’.

Translations

[edit]