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to stand off
[phrase form: stand]
01
to prevent a potential attacker from approaching by taking on a defensive posture
Grammatical Information
Composition
phrasal
Action verb
Regular
Separable
Particle
off
Base verb
stand
Present tense
stand off
3rd person singular
stands off
Present participle
standing off
Past simple
stood off
Past participle
stood off
Examples
The security guards were trained to stand off any intruders with a strong and assertive presence.
02
to remain at a certain distance away from something or someone
Examples
As a safety precaution, spectators were instructed to stand off from the racetrack during the car race.
03
to let go of a worker, whether temporarily or permanently, due to a lack of available work
Dialect
British
BritishExamples
Due to a sudden decline in orders, the factory had to stand off several workers until production picked up again.
04
to move one's watercraft away from the sea coast
Examples
As the storm approached, the captain decided to stand off from the coast to ensure the safety of the ship and its crew.
