ward off (adj.) 避開；預防

例：People let them off to ring in the New Year and to ward off evil spirits!（人們會在新年燃放鞭炮，以聲響鎮妖避邪！）

例：You need to quit smoking as soon as possible to ward off lung cancer.（為了要預防肺癌，你必須儘快戒菸。）

ward
n. (名詞 noun)
1. 病房,病室[C]
He was put in an isolation ward.
他住進了隔離病房。

2. 【主英】牢房[C]
3. 行政區,選區,區[C]
Which ward does he represent on the council?
在理事會中他代表哪個區?

4. 【律】受監護的未成年人(或瘋人等)[C]
The courts made him a ward of his uncle.
法院指定他舅父為他的監護人。

5. 保護;看護;保衛[U]
The soldiers kept watch and ward over the castle.
士兵們守衛這個城堡。

6. 監禁,拘留;監視,監督[U]
7. 受保護的人(或物)[C]

vt. (及物動詞 transitive verb)
1. 【古】保護,守衛
2. 避開;擋開;避免[(+off)]
He flung up an arm to ward off the blow.
他迅速抬起手臂擋開這一擊。