head off

未然に防ぐ

問題や望ましくない出来事が起こる前に、手を打って防ぐこと。

やさしい英語で： To act early to stop a problem or unwanted event from happening.

• We must head off trouble.
• The talks headed off a strike.
• Extra supplies could head off a food shortage.

使い方： head something off (Early action helped us head the problem off.)

類義語： prevent, avert, forestall

よく使う表現： head off trouble, head off a crisis, head off something

出発する

ある場所を離れて、別の場所への移動を始めること。

やさしい英語で： To leave a place and begin travelling somewhere.

• We should head off now.
• She headed off to work early.
• What time are you heading off tomorrow?

使い方： head off to somewhere (We headed off to the beach after breakfast.)

類義語： leave, set off, depart

反対語： arrive

よく使う表現： head off home, head off to work, head off early, head off to school

行く手を阻む、先回りして止める

移動中の人の先に回り、進めないようにすること。

やさしい英語で： To get in front of someone moving and stop them from continuing.

• We headed off the escaping sheep.
• The police headed off the suspect at the bridge.
• Can you head him off before he reaches the road?

使い方： head someone off (The guards headed them off at the gate.)

類義語： intercept, block

よく使う表現： head off someone, head off the escapees

風下に針路を変える

船首を、風が吹いてくる方向からさらに離れるように回すこと。

やさしい英語で： To turn a boat so that its front points further away from the direction the wind comes from.

• The skipper told me to head off.
• We headed off slightly as the wind increased.
• Head off until the sails fill again.

類義語： bear away, fall off

反対語： head up

よく使う表現： head off slightly, head off downwind