ward off

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Related to ward off: point out, out of commission, wreak havoc

ward off

To push back or defend against someone or something that is advancing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "ward" and "off." How will we ward off all these attackers? If you feel like you're getting a cold, these vitamin C tablets should help you to ward it off. These talismans were thought to ward off evil spirits.

See also: off, ward

ward someone or something off

to hold someone or something off; to fight someone or something off. The army was able to ward the attackers off repeatedly. We couldn't ward off the attackers any longer.

See also: off, ward

ward off

1. Turn aside, parry, as in He tried to ward off her blows. [Second half of 1500s]

2. Try to prevent, avert, as in She took vitamin C to ward off a cold. [Mid-1700s]

See also: off, ward

ward off

1. To try to prevent; avert: You should take vitamins to ward off infections.

2. To turn something aside; repel: The champion boxer warded off the opponent's blows. The flies were annoying me, but I warded them off.

See also: off, ward

References in periodicals archive ?

Latur (Maharashtra) [India], June 13 ( ANI ): In another case of being superstitious, a 17-year-old-girl was made to eat buffalo dung in Maharashtra's Latur to ward off evil spirit.

Shocking! Teen girl forced to eat buffalo dung to ward off evil spirits

Have a brew Tea isn't just comforting in winter, it's also packed with antioxidants and proven to help ward off dementia.

Hot remedies for a cold war; Turns out grandma really did know best

The draft ward off the dangers of flooding and storm water drainage to the secretariat of the Tabuk region, municipalities and villages

Ward off the Dangers of Flooding and Storm Water Drainage to the Secretariat of the Tabuk Region

In a press statement, Al-Sheikh said that the meeting reviewed the arrangements being carried out by the state to ward off the impacts resulting from the heavy rains and floods that hit a number of areas in Khartoum State.

Abdul-Rahman Al-Mahdi Informed on Khartoum State Efforts to Ward off Impacts of Floods

Sweet potatoes are high in iron, an essential mineral that is vital in the production of healthy red blood cells to ward off anaemia.

5 reasons to.. EAT SWEET POTATOES

Style director Gregory Wein, in an attempt to ward off potential airborne maladies during long flights, swears by a small dab of Neosporin in each nostril.

Now boarding

The finding suggests that inhibiting PGC-1-alpha might ward off porphyria attacks in people.

Protein fingered in rare psychosis

Cranberries or prevent urinary tract infection, blueberries to protect against Alzheimer's, strawberries to lower your blood pressure, black raspberries to ward off cancer.

Berry berry good

People wear surgical masks and shave their hair to ward off the spread of disease.

Stephens, J.B. The big empty

To ward off trouble, sites like the heavily trafficked RatemyTeachers.

Teen gossip jumps to the Web

To ward off intruders, a bee plunges its four-millimeter-long stinger--along with its lower abdomen, venom sac, and part of its digestive tract--into its victim.

Unbeelievable! (Freeze Frame)

These images are the result of a chain of "clonings" of basic forms to produce impossible shapes--hybrids that incorporate unpredictable juxtapositions, evoking sexual objects and exercising a sense of attraction that they then ward off.

MARISA ALBANESE

Not surprisingly, Shelby County residents jumped at the chance to ward off their hungry neighbor - and, sometimes, to ward off each other.