General Examples:
* He drank a cup of coffee to stave off the afternoon slump. (Meaning: to prevent something unpleasant from happening)
* The company implemented new strategies to stave off bankruptcy. (Meaning: to delay or prevent something from happening)
* She used a strong disinfectant to stave off infection. (Meaning: to prevent something from starting)
More Specific Examples:
* The doctor prescribed antibiotics to stave off a possible infection. (Meaning: to prevent something from happening)
* The firefighters worked tirelessly to stave off the wildfire from spreading to nearby houses. (Meaning: to prevent something from getting worse)
* The team played hard to stave off defeat. (Meaning: to prevent something from happening)
Informal Examples:
* I ate a huge breakfast to stave off hunger pangs until lunch. (Meaning: to prevent something from happening)
* He put on a brave face to stave off the tears. (Meaning: to prevent something from happening)
Remember: "Stave off" usually implies a negative outcome that is being avoided or delayed.