ward off

British  

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to turn aside or repel; avert

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ward off Idioms  

1. Turn aside, parry, as in He tried to ward off her blows . [Second half of 1500s]

2. Try to prevent, avert, as in She took vitamin C to ward off a cold . [Mid-1700s]

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Example Sentences

The subsidy-fueled gold rush emboldened unions to squeeze producers, warding off studios looking for inexpensive film locations.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s no secret that police routinely monitor funerals and repass gatherings where they suspect gang members could be present, partly in an effort to ward off violence.

From Los Angeles Times

They’re an everyday kitchen staple, a decoration drying outside homes, and a tool to ward off bad spirits and illness.

From Salon

So as the roadway reopens and life along California’s majestic, oceanside cliffs returns to a long-awaited normal, Hay said she will do what she can to ward off the next closure.

From Los Angeles Times

Would measures to ward off California’s predators increase safety?

From Los Angeles Times