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standoffishnot friendly to other people; staying away from other people

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: not friendly to other people; staying away from other people

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈstændɔːfɪʃ/

Korean meaning: 냉담한, 쌀쌀맞은, 거리를 두는

Korean pronunciation: **스탠**드오피시

Example Sentences

  • My cat is quite standoffish - she only approaches when she wants food.
  • Don't take his standoffish behavior personally; he's just shy around new people.
  • The new student appeared standoffish, but it turned out he was just nervous about making friends.

standoffish

ADJECTIVE

//ˈstændɔːfɪʃ//

not friendly to other people; staying away from other people

standoffish concept
💡 Concept

a teenage student sits alone at an empty table, deliberately facing away from other students with crossed arms and a cold expression. The student keeps their head down and avoids eye contact when others pass by. A group of friendly classmates approaches with welcoming gestures, trying to invite the lone student to join them. The isolated student responds by turning further away and creating more physical distance. Other students in the background notice the unfriendly behavior and continue eating at their own tables. someone being standoffish by not being friendly and staying away from other people

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈstændɔːfɪʃ/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈstændɒfɪʃ/

🌳Etymology

Rootstand off
Suffix--ish

Origin

From the nautical phrase 'stand off,' meaning to keep a ship at a safe distance from shore or other vessels. The adjective form developed in the 1800s to describe people who maintain emotional distance from others.

🎵Rhyme

selfishshellfish
selfish
shellfish

🔗Collocations

seem standoffish
rather standoffish
standoffish attitude
appear standoffish
naturally standoffish
come across as standoffish

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My cat is quite standoffish - she only approaches when she wants food.

Don't take his standoffish behavior personally; he's just shy around new people.

The new student appeared standoffish, but it turned out he was just nervous about making friends.

😄 Fun example

My neighbor seems standoffish, but yesterday I saw him talking to his plants for an hour.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

aloofdistantreservedunfriendlycold

Antonyms

friendlyapproachablewarm

Related

antisocialwithdrawndetachedunapproachable

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