Occurs when two men are at adjacent urinals and neither can start peeing due to the combination of nerves, silence, and overall awkwardness.

Derived from the old joke, best read aloud: If you're American when you go into the bathroom, and American when you come out, what are you when you're in the bathroom? ... European! (You're a' peein')

See also pee shy and urinal anxiety.
Man 1: Wow, you were in there for a long time? Were you taking a dump?

Man 2: No, I got caught in a European Standoff. I had to wait until the other guy gave up and left to start peeing.
by Rotcerid May 15, 2016
Get the European Standoff mug.