head off

verb

1. to intercept and force to change direction

   to head off the stampede

2. to prevent or forestall (something that is likely to happen)

3. to depart or set out

   to head off to school

Idioms and Phrases

Block the progress or completion of; also, intercept. For example, They worked round the clock to head off the flu epidemic, or Try to head him off before he gets home. [First half of 1800s] This expression gave rise to head someone off at the pass, which in Western films meant “to block someone at a mountain pass.” It then became a general colloquialism for intercepting someone, as in Jim is going to the boss's office—let's head him off at the pass.

Example Sentences

As the oldest, Joylette would get her own room, though she would be heading off to college soon.

Read more on Literature

In addition to the currency swap, the Treasury also injected an estimated $2 billion to head off a pre-election run on the Argentine peso.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

One reason companies keep changing tactics is to head off disruptions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I could have put the book back on the shelf and headed off to the fiction section, but instead I bought the guidebook and a couple more.

Read more on Salon

Eubank thinks he is a better boxer than he is and Benn only knows how to fight one way - trying to take his opponent's head off for every second of every round.

Read more on BBC