stand off

S s

Definitions of stand off words

noun stand off a standing off or apart; aloofness. 1
noun stand off a tie or draw, as in a game. 1
noun stand off something that counterbalances. 1
noun stand off a prop for holding the top of a ladder away from the vertical surface against which it is leaning. 1
noun stand off Electricity. an insulator that supports a conductor above a surface. 1
adjective stand off standing off or apart; aloof; reserved: an uncordial and standoff manner. 1

before 1830

One of the 36% newest English words

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

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 74% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

beat around the bush — to talk around a subject without getting to the point
drag one's feet — to draw with force, effort, or difficulty; pull heavily or slowly along; haul; trail: They dragged the carpet out of the house.
hold off — to have or keep in the hand; keep fast; grasp: She held the purse in her right hand. He held the child's hand in his.
filibuster — U.S. Politics. the use of irregular or obstructive tactics by a member of a legislative assembly to prevent the adoption of a measure generally favored or to force a decision against the will of the majority. an exceptionally long speech, as one lasting for a day or days, or a series of such speeches to accomplish this purpose. a member of a legislature who makes such a speech.
filibustering — Present participle of filibuster.