1
general::
Phrase(s): 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., Phrase(s): 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.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
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]
American Heritage Idioms