head (someone or something) off at the pass

1. Literally, to prevent someone or something from reaching or passing a certain point, especially to escape. If we take this route, we should be able to head them off at the pass, sheriff! Janet's going to spill the beans about our plan to the teacher. I think she's going through the library, so if we're quick, we can head her off at the pass. Jeremy has been acting suspicious, so he's probably going to try to sneak out tonight, but I'm going to head him off at the pass.

2. By extension, to preempt or forestall someone from doing something or something from happening. The aim of this new treatment method is to identify the disease much earlier and then head it off the pass, rather than simply managing the symptoms it presents down the line. Economists warn that another crisis is around the corner, and the government needs to head it off at the pass! In the future, how can we head major site outage like this off at the pass?

head someone off at the pass

Fig. to intercept someone. (From Old West movies. Fixed order.) I need to talk to John before he gets into the boss's office. I'll head him off at the pass. The sheriff set out in a hurry to head Jed off at the pass.

head (or cut) someone or something off at the pass

forestall someone or something, especially at a critical moment or at the last possible moment.

Pass is used here in the sense of a narrow route through mountains.

See also: head, off, pass, someone, something

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