What does "head off" mean?

To prevent something by taking action early To intercept and stop something before it happens or gets worse.

How do you use "head off" in a sentence?

We need to head off any criticism. They headed off the crisis. Try to head off problems before they grow.

Phrasal Verb BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

含义: To prevent something by taking action early

通过提前行动来预防某事

Prevenir algo actuando con anticipación

（早めに手を打って）防ぐ、先手を打つ

선수를 쳐서 막다, 미연에 방지하다

To intercept and stop something before it happens or gets worse.

在事情发生或恶化之前拦截并阻止。

Interceptar y detener algo antes de que ocurra o empeore.

何かが起こる前、または悪化する前に阻止すること。

어떤 일이 발생하거나 악화되기 전에 가로막아 저지하는 것을 뜻한다.

Base verb: head

Particle: off

Separable: Yes — the object can go between the verb and particle

We need to head off any criticism.
我们需要预先化解批评
Necesitamos anticiparnos a las críticas
批判を未然に防ぐ必要がある
어떤 비판이든 미리 차단해야 한다.
They headed off the crisis.
他们阻止了危机的发生
Evitaron la crisis a tiempo
彼らは危機を未然に防いだ
그들은 위기를 미연에 방지했다.
Try to head off problems before they grow.
试着在问题扩大之前阻止它
Intenta atajar los problemas antes de que crezcan
問題が大きくなる前に先手を打とう
문제가 커지기 전에 선수를 치자.

语境: prevention, strategy, crisis management

语气: proactive

From heading someone off at a pass, cutting them off.

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal