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head off — 2 meanings

One phrase, 2 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb2 meanings
head off
leave for a placeprevent something

Meaning 1 · most common

leave for a place

  • head off to/for [place)

to start going somewhere, especially to leave a place and begin a journey.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inMostly spoken

Examples

I usually head off to work around 8 a.m.

A: Are you leaving already?
B: Yeah, I need to head off or I'll miss my train.

Common mistake

Not: Let's head off the beach.

Say: Let's head off to the beach.

'Head off TO a place'. Without 'to' it reads as 'head off' = prevent.

More on “leave for a place”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

If I have an early class, I try to head off before the traffic gets bad.

Tell it apart

I'll head off home now.

  • leave for home

We headed off a crisis.

  • prevented it

Goes with

  • head off + to
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Next meaning: prevent something

Meaning 2

prevent something

  • head off sth

to take action in order to stop something from happening.

How oftenNow and then
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

The manager tried to head off any complaints by explaining the changes clearly.

A: Why did you send that email so quickly?
B: I wanted to head off any confusion about the schedule.

Common mistake

Not: We need to head off from the crisis.

Say: We need to head off the crisis.

'Head off + problem' directly (= prevent). 'Head off TO' means leave.

More on “prevent something”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

To head off health problems, I try to exercise regularly and eat well.

Tell it apart

They headed off a strike.

  • prevented it

They headed off to lunch.

  • left

Goes with

  • head off + threat
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leave for a placeprevent something