Akademik

head off

verb

prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening (Freq. 3)

- Let's avoid a confrontation

- head off a confrontation

- avert a strike

• Syn:

• Derivationally related forms: ↑avoidable (for: ↑avoid), ↑avertible (for: ↑avert), ↑avertable (for: ↑avert), ↑obviation (for: ↑obviate)

• Verb Frames:

- Somebody ——s something

- Something ——s something

* * *

head off [phrasal verb]

1 : to go to another place

I'll see you later–I'm heading off.

He headed off to work.

2 head (someone) off or head off (someone) : to stop (someone) from moving forward

We can head them off at the pass.

3 head (something) off or head off (something) : to prevent (something) from happening

They tried to head off the crisis by raising interest rates.

• • •

Main Entry: ↑head

Useful english dictionary. 2012.