head off

British  

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

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head off Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

During the final round of the PGA Championship in 2025, he angrily flung his driver near a volunteer so hard that it damaged a sign and snapped the head off the club’s shaft.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 21, 2026

Michael Wright had been due to head off to the States for a dream 30th birthday trip with his brother and had tickets for Scotland's group stage games against Haiti and Morocco.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

"So you pay the amount. An hour later, they say it’ll be in your account. But it's not there. And you cry, you scream your head off."

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

I do not envy anyone who has found themselves in a position where they feel the need to preemptively head off charges of idolatry.

From Slate • Jun. 2, 2026

She seemed pretty proud of herself, strutting around and squawking her head off when I told her she did a good job.

From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones