head off at the pass

verb

To endeavor to catch someone or something as they pass a specific, known point, as at a pass between mountains.

Similar
cut off at the pass
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Meanings

verbhead off at the pass (third-person singular simple present heads off at the pass, present participle heading off at the pass, simple past and past participle headed off at the pass)

present singular third person heads off at the pass · participle present heading off at the pass · participle past headed off at the pass · past headed off at the pass

  1. transitiveTo endeavor to catch someone or something as they pass a specific, known point, as at a pass between mountains.

    Synonyms: cut off at the pass

  2. transitiveTo forestall (something).

    Synonyms: cut off at the pass

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo endeavor to catch someone or something as they pass a specific, known point, as at a pass between mountains.

Similar
cut off at the pass

verbTo forestall (something).

Similar
cut off at the pass
Also see
cut off at the pass
Cite this entry
APA

head off at the pass. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/head%20off%20at%20the%20pass

MLA

“head off at the pass.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/head%20off%20at%20the%20pass. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “head off at the pass,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/head%20off%20at%20the%20pass.

Source: head off at the pass on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.