headed off
Prevented from continuing
Headed off means intercepted or diverted before reaching a destination or outcome.
You head off a person by cutting them off: Security headed off the intruder before he reached the stage.
You head off a problem by preventing it: We headed off disaster by acting quickly.
The phrase implies anticipating movement or development and blocking it.
- avertedPrevented from occurring
- interceptedCaught en route
- preventedStopped before occurrence
- forestalledPrevented through early action
- blockedPassage prevented or impeded
nipped in the bud · preempted · got ahead of · departed · hit the road · redirected · thwarted · stopped · cut short · deflected · turned away · ambushed · left · outmaneuvered · waylaid · went away · deterred · hindered
headed offpermitted
Granted leave to proceed
enabled · allowed · facilitated · stood aside · missed
headed offtrailed
Followed or lagged
pursued · tailed · followed · chased · lagged behind
headed offarrived
Reached one's destination
returned · came back · turned back · arrived at · reached
head, headed, off, heads, heading, headless, header, headers, headings