The phrase "to stave off" means to delay, postpone or prevent something from happening. It can be used in a variety of contexts such as health, finance, relationships and more. For example, one might say that they are trying to stave off hunger by eating a meal, meaning they are attempting to avoid feeling hungry again until their next scheduled mealtime. In another scenario, an individual may be trying to stave off financial difficulties by finding ways to save money or increase income. The phrase can also be used in the context of relationships where one might try to stave off conflict or arguments through open communication and compromise. Overall, "to stave off" means taking action to prevent something from happening or delay its onset.