To prevent any would-be attacker from coming close by adopting an offensive posture.
To stand some distance apart from something or someone.
To deliberately act evasively or prolong a discussion in order to gain time or postpone a decision, sometimes so that a compromise can be reached or simply to make a conversation more temperate; to stall for time.
To apply a temporary piece of dental work that will later be removed.
To discuss, to negotiate; to reach a compromise.