Head off
Pronunciation: /ˈhɛd ˈɔf/
Head off (verb)
- To prevent something from happening by acting early, before it becomes a problem.
- To go to someone’s way and stop them from reaching a place or doing something.
- To deal with a situation early so it does not grow worse or cause damage later.
Examples
- She headed off the problem before it began.
- They headed off the conflict by changing the plan.