Stave off
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Immediacy
Use 'stave off' when expressing urgent prevention of something negative happening soon.
They donated food to stave off hunger in the crisis-hit region.
Pro Tip 2/3Active Effort
'Stave off' implies actively working against a threat, not passively avoiding it.
The town built levees to stave off flooding.
Pro Tip 3/3Temporary Fix
Often, 'stave off' suggests a temporary solution, not a permanent fix.
I drank coffee to stave off sleepiness during the meeting.
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