Head off Meaning in English
expression
ˈhɛd/ /ˈɔf
HED-awf
hˈɛd/ /ˈɒf
HED-of
Definition
To leave and go toward a place, or to prevent something from happening or someone from going somewhere by stopping or intercepting them.
Usage & Nuances
'Head off' can mean simply leaving for a destination ('I'm going to head off now') or actively preventing something ('We need to head off trouble'). Often informal. Not to be confused with 'head out' (usually just 'leave') or 'head up' (lead). Common collocations: 'head off an argument', 'head off a crisis'.
Spanish: irse - evitar - interceptarPortuguese (BR): partir - evitar - interceptarPortuguese (PT): partir - evitar - interceptarChinese (Simplified): 出发 - 阻止 - 拦截Chinese (Traditional): 出發 - 阻止 - 攔截Hindi: निकलना - रोकना - टालनाArabic: ينصرف - يمنع - يقطع الطريقBengali: রওনা হওয়া - বাধা দেওয়াRussian: отправиться - предотвратитьJapanese: 出発する - 食い止めるVietnamese: rời đi - ngăn chặnKorean: 출발하다 - 막다Turkish: yola çıkmak - önlemekUrdu: روانہ ہونا - روکناIndonesian: berangkat - mencegah
Example Sentences
It's late, I should head off now.
basic
She tried to head off the argument.
basic
Security managed to head off the thief at the door.
basic
Let me head off before the traffic gets bad.
natural
We need to head off any problems before they start.
natural
If we leave now, we can head off the crowd.
natural