A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

Note:
The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase
be eye candy
—
1
. be visually attractive: We waited a little long
for our food, and it did help that our waiter was eye candy. 2.
(Internet) used of extra graphics on a Web page that usually makes
it look worse: First I’m told that my site is too simple … and
then I’m told that my site has too much eye candy. Cf.: be ear
candy — said of music with an instant appeal but with little sig-
nificance: This is anything but ear-candy, and the music is
meant to be listened to and savored many times.
be a sight to behold —
1
. = be a sight for sore eyes: The sunset
on the horizon was a sight to behold. The soft glow of orange
over the mountains was breath-taking. 2. look untidy, repul-
sive, or ridiculous: We soon arrived at the local abattoir, which
was a sight to behold. Used to the clinical approach of the
western world, we were stunned…
Note: 
The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with
the phrase be a sight— = be a sight to behold 2: It was raining
and lightning, I was crying, I was cold … Believe me, I was
a sight!
be a standoff • be standoffish
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
– 31 –
be a standoff

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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.