Syn: offish. [PJC] -- {stand*off"ish*ness}, n. -- {stand*off"ish*ly}, adv. [PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
stand-offish — stand of|fish standoffish [ˌstænd ˈɔfıʃ US ˈo:f ] adj informal rather unfriendly and formal ▪ She was cold and stand offish. >stand offishly adv >stand offishness n [U] … Dictionary of contemporary English
stand-offish — ► ADJECTIVE informal ▪ distant and cold in manner … English terms dictionary
stand-offish — ▶ adjective (informal) ALOOF, distant, remote, detached, withdrawn, reserved, uncommunicative, unresponsive, unforthcoming, unapproachable, unfriendly, unsociable, introspective, introverted. Opposites friendly, approachable, sociable. * * *… … Useful english dictionary
stand-offish — also standoffish ADJ GRADED (disapproval) If you say that someone is stand offish, you mean that they behave in a formal and rather unfriendly way. He can be quite stand offish and rude, even to his friends. Syn: aloof, cold … English dictionary
stand-offish — adjective informal rather unfriendly and formal: She was cold and stand offish. stand offishly adverb stand offishness noun (U) … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
stand-offish — UK [ˌstænd ˈɒfɪʃ] / US [ˌstænd ˈɑfɪʃ] adjective a stand offish person behaves in a formal way that is not friendly because they do not want to get involved with other people … English dictionary
stand-offish — /stænd ˈɒfɪʃ/ (say stand ofish) adjective aloof; reserved; unfriendly. –stand offishly, adverb –stand offishness, noun …
stand-offish — adjective informal distant and cold in manner. Derivatives stand offishly adverb stand offishness noun … English new terms dictionary
stand|off — stand off or stand|off «STAND F, OF», noun, adjective. –n. 1. a tie or draw in a game. 2. Figurative: »It is far easier to maintain a stand off between two superpowers than between three or four (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists). 3. a standing off… … Useful english dictionary
Offish — Off ish, a. Shy or distant in manner; aloof; stand offish. [Colloq. U.S.] [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
