be a standoff—said of a situation in which the two sides in a conflict, etc. are equally matched or equally unyielding:
- There was a standoff for a few hours, while police spoke to the man urging him to give himself up.
be standoffish—said of a person who is reluctant to show friendship or enter into conversation:
- They got on well for a few months, but now they hardly talk to each other, because Lily is so standoffish.