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Question

A: We will head them off at the bridge. Does it mean we will head them off towards the bridge?
B: He has already ran two and half laps out of three laps. He is not far off now. Meaning he is almost there, right? Correct?

Blue Jay · Accepted Answer

A) No, it means we will intercept them at the bridge, or get to the bridge first and stop them crossing it.
B) Yes.

Clive · Answer

B: He has already ~~ran~~ run .. .

Anonymous · Answer

Can I ubderstand sentence A as

Blue JayA) No, it means we will intercept them at the bridge, or get to the bridge first and stop them crossing it.B) Yes.

can I understand sentence A as we will tell them to go into a particular direction From the bridge? the reason I asked is I disn't understand Clearly. Can you also check two more sentences?

A: He ran off the bridge to the temple.
B: He stumbled off his room to the parking lot.

Thank you. Appreciated.

Blue Jay · Answer

Anonymouscan I understand sentence A as we will tell them to go into a particular direction From the bridge? the reason I asked is I disn't understand Clearly.

No, not necessarily. If they are your friends you might tell them to go in a different direction, but the important point is that you get to the bridge first and stop them going that way. For instance, suppose some robbers are trying to get away, and if they cross the bridge they will be hard to find, The police might want to head them off (cause them to go somewhere other than across the bridge) by getting to the bridge first so the robbers can't go that way.

AnonymousA: He ran off the bridge to the temple..

That could work.

AnonymousB: He stumbled off his room to the parking lot.

No, that doesn't work. You could say
He stumbled from his room to the parking lot.
He stumbled out of his room to the parking lot.

Anonymous · Answer

Blue Jay Anonymouscan I understand sentence A as we will tell them to go into a particular direction From the bridge? the reason I asked is I disn't understand Clearly.No, not necessarily. If they are your friends you might tell them to go in a different direction, but the important point is that you get to the bridge first and stop them going that way. For instance, suppose some robbers are trying to get away, and if they cross the bridge they will be hard to find, The police might want to head them off (cause them to go somewhere other than across the bridge) by getting to the bridge first so the robbers can't go that way. AnonymousA: He ran off the bridge to the temple..That could work.AnonymousB: He stumbled off his room to the parking lot.No, that doesn't work. You could sayHe stumbled from his room to the parking lot.He stumbled out of his room to the parking lot.

So, it pretty much means Away from the bridge, right?

Blue Jay · Answer

It means to get ahead of them and cause them to go away from the bridge.

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