Meaning trap
head off
leave for a place
to start going somewhere, especially to leave a place and begin a journey.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to start going somewhere, especially to leave a place and begin a journey.
Another meaning of 'head off' is 'prevent something'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
I usually head off to work around 8 a.m.
If I have an early class, I try to head off before the traffic gets bad.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
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.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Head off' is the casual way to say you're setting out. 'Depart for' is formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
head off + to
- to work
- home
- to bed
- early
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- head off (prevent something) — Another meaning of 'head off' is 'prevent something'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.