forestall
verb
[ fɔːˈstɔːl ]
• prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by taking advance action.
• "they will present their resignations to forestall a vote of no confidence"
Similar:
pre-empt,
get in before,
get ahead of,
steal a march on,
anticipate,
second-guess,
nip in the bud,
thwart,
frustrate,
foil,
stave off,
ward off,
fend off,
avert,
preclude,
obviate,
prevent,
intercept,
check,
block,
hinder,
impede,
obstruct,
beat someone to it,
beat someone to the draw/punch,
Origin:
Old English foresteall ‘an ambush’ (see fore- and stall). As a verb the earliest sense (Middle English) was ‘intercept and buy up goods before they reach the market, so as to raise the price’ (formerly an offence).
