ward off — fend off (something negative or harmful)
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
to prevent something unpleasant, dangerous, or unwanted from affecting you, often by taking action in advance
Say it like a native
Textbook She took vitamins to prevent the onset of a cold.
Native She takes vitamins to ward off colds.
'Ward off' is the idiomatic verb for keeping something bad at bay; the paraphrase is wordy.
Pattern: ward off + noun (danger/threat/problem/illness/attack/criticism)
In use
- She drinks herbal tea every morning to ward off colds during the winter.health
- Many people believe that regular exercise can help ward off stress and improve overall wellbeing.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ He waved off the attack.
✓ He warded off the attack.
It's 'ward off' (fend off), not 'wave off' (dismiss / say goodbye).
Common collocations
ward off + threat— a cold, attackers, evil, hunger
Don't confuse it
'Ward off' is not the same as simply 'avoid', which means not to come into contact with something at all. 'Ward off' suggests you are actively stopping something that is already coming towards you or threatening you.