0 to prevent a difficult or unpleasant situation from happening: --
The company is putting up wages to head off a strike.
1 to take action to stop something from happening: --
head off recession/inflation/legislation, etc.
The Federal Reserve was accused of failing to head off a crisis in home mortgages.
NYA ORD
European
May 10, 2021
DAGENS ORD
Shimmer
head sth off