stave off

British  

verb

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

   to stave off hunger

---

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]

---

Example Sentences

De Zerbi has seven games left to turn things around and stave off relegation.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The enemy will likely take his words seriously and prepare to stave off his threats.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

Tokyo imposed caps on fuel and electricity prices to stave off recession after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, even though Brent oil hung above $100 a barrel for more than four months, Thieliant says.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

Five years later, all the remaining wild condors were captured and bred in captivity to try to stave off extinction.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

Nigro realized that Bobby was trying to stave off what he feared would be an inevitable loss.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady