intransitive verb
1. : to stay at a distance in social intercourse or acquaintance : be unapproachable or unobliging
2. : to sail away from the shore
transitive verb
1.
a. : to hold at a distance : keep from advancing : repel
taking cover they managed to stand the Indians off until they could make their escape — D.D.Martin
b. : to put off : stall
able to stand off his creditors
2. Britain : to remove temporarily from regular employment : lay off
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- stand off and on