A standoff is a fight or argument that has stopped moving because neither side can win and neither side will give up. Both sides are still there, still facing each other, still ready — nothing has been settled, and nothing is happening.

A standoff standoff is是 a fight or argument一種爭執或衝突 that has stopped moving僵持不動 because neither side can win and neither side will give up因為雙方都贏不了，也都不肯讓步。Both sides雙方 are still there仍然在那裡, still facing each other仍然互相對峙, still ready仍然戒備著 — nothing has been settled什麼都沒解決, and nothing is happening什麼事也沒發生。

News reports use it most for armed situations: police outside a building with someone inside, two armies at a border, each watching the other for hours or days. But it is used just as much for talk: a standoff between a union and a company, between two political parties over a budget.

News reports新聞報導 use it most for armed situations最常用它來形容武裝對峙的情況: police outside a building with someone inside警方包圍一棟樓，裡面有人, two armies at a border兩軍在邊境對峙, each watching the other for hours or days彼此觀望好幾個小時或好幾天。But it is used just as much for talk但它同樣常用在言語上的僵局: a standoff between a union and a company工會和公司之間的standoff, between two political parties over a budget或兩個政黨為了預算僵持不下。

The key feeling is frozen tension, not calm. A ceasefire is quiet because both sides agreed to be quiet; a standoff is quiet because both sides are stuck. It usually implies waiting — a standoff can go on for weeks, and part of the fight is who runs out of patience first.

The key feeling is關鍵的感覺是 frozen tension凍結般的緊張, not calm而不是平靜。A ceasefire停火（ceasefire） is quiet之所以安靜 because both sides agreed to be quiet是因為雙方都同意安靜下來; a standoff standoff is quiet之所以安靜 because both sides are stuck是因為雙方都卡住了。It usually implies waiting它通常帶有等待的意味 — a standoff can go on for weeks standoff可能拖上好幾個禮拜, and part of the fight is who runs out of patience first而這場對抗有一部分就是在比誰先失去耐性。

The related adjective standoffish is a different matter entirely: it describes a person who keeps others at a distance and seems cold, and it has nothing to do with a fight.

The related adjective standoffish相關的形容詞standoffish is a different matter entirely完全是另一回事: it describes a person who keeps others at a distance and seems cold它形容一個人跟別人保持距離、顯得冷淡, and it has nothing to do with a fight跟衝突一點關係都沒有。