stand off

stand off

1. To remain separate or at a distance (from someone or something else). I stood off from everyone else so I could observe what was happening. Because of the rocky shoreline, our boat had to stand off a good bit
2. To repel or stave off someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "stand" and "off." Security personnel stood off the protestors as the controversial politician entered the building. I've been posted here to stand any intruders off during the night.
See also: off, stand
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

stand someone or something off

to repel the attack of someone or something; to defend against someone or something; to stave someone or something off. It was all we could do to stand them off. The soldiers stood off the attackers as long as they could.
See also: off, stand

stand off

some place [for a ship] to wait some distance from a point on shore. The ship stood off at some distance, waiting for its berth. We stood off about a mile from shore and went to land in small boats called tenders.
See also: off, stand
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

stand off

1. 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."
2. Put off, keep away, as in The police stood off the angry strikers. [Second half of 1800s]
See also: off, stand
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

stand off

v.
1. To stay at a distance; remain apart: She stood off from the group. He stood off by himself.
2. To maintain a course away from shore. Used of a ship or other vessel: The ship stood off to sea.
3. Sports To move backward so that one is farther away from some opponent: The boxer stood off his opponent. The defender stood off the attacker, allowing her a shot on goal.
See also: off, stand
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • heave in view
  • down with the haps
  • weather eye, to keep a
  • on patrol
  • on (one's) account
  • on account
  • watch (one's) smoke
  • watch someone's smoke
  • grow out of
  • grow out of (something)
References in periodicals archive
During most of Saturday, January 25, some 2000 protesters were stuck 40 kilometers away from Davos in the town of Landquart, after a stand off between some protesters and police blocked rail links to the summit.
The Social Democrats' train was ahead of the one involved in the stand off, however, and no more protesters arrived for about four hours.
WEF III: protests end in debacle. (News)
Once the stand offs and comer insulators are ready, run electric fencing wire of the suitable gauge (12-1/2 gauge is generally recommended) through the stand offs.
Upgrade your fencing without busting the budget
STAND OFF: Dixon Street A SUSPECTED thief spent five hours on the roof of a house in a stand-off with police.
Man held after stand-off; Burglary suspect arrested after spending five hours on roof
From the restart Vale stand off Andy Barnett charged down Danny Col-lins's clearance kick for the visitors to regain the lead before Phil Kearns finished off a multi-phase LSH attack on the stroke of half-time to make it 10-8.
Rugby: LSH march on with fifth win
Once the corner posts are solid, add the number of strands of wire desired using stand off brackets along the line and insulators at the corners or turns as necessary.
Good neighbors make good fences
SPLIT: Cameron finishes with Debbie STAND OFF: Andy faces Debbie and Cameron
Party crasher
Ally Dawson returns at stand off and captain Nick Armstrong will be back at centre.
Rugby Union: Hawks out to give 'Sonians Wat for