stave off

British  

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to avert or hold off (something undesirable or harmful), esp temporarily

   to stave off hunger

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stave off Idioms  

1. Keep or hold away, repel, as in The Federal Reserve Board is determined to stave off inflation. This metaphoric expression transfers beating something off with a staff or stave to nonphysical repulsion. [c. 1600]

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Example Sentences

Crops needed to stave off starvation have been decimated.

From The Wall Street Journal

Although researchers didn’t identify steps you can take to stave off symptoms, there are some conditions that are associated with a good—or bad—response.

From The Wall Street Journal

Your book is full of practical strategies for staving off digital exhaustion.

From Los Angeles Times

Bessent promised to do "what was needed" to stave off further drops in September.

From BBC

Still, the low level of layoffs and low unemployment are supporting U.S. growth and helping to stave off a recession.

From MarketWatch