Odvracet

Odvracet is a Czech verb meaning to turn away, divert, or distract, and to avert or deter. It is transitive and typically used with a direct object. Common usages include odvracet pozornost (to divert attention), odvracet zrak or pohled (to avert one’s gaze), and odvracet nebezpečí or hrozbu (to avert danger or a threat).

Etymologie and aspect: odvracet is formed with the prefix od- attached to the verb vracet, conveying the sense of turning away. As an imperfective verb, odvracet describes ongoing or repeated action, while its perfective counterpart odvrátit refers to a single, completed act of averting. In standard Czech usage, odvrátit is often preferred when speaking of a decisive, completed action, and odvracet when emphasizing a process or habit.

Syntax and usage: odvracet is transitive and commonly combines with nouns such as pozornost, zrak, pohled, or nebezpečí. Examples include odvracet pozornost médií, odvrátit zrak při nebezpečí, or odvracet hrozbu konfliktem. The choice between odvracet and odvrátit depends on whether the speaker emphasizes the ongoing effort or a single preventive action.

See also: odvrácení, odvratit. Distinctions between imperfective and perfective aspects are typical for Czech prefixed verbs, and odvracet/odvrátit illustrate the broader pattern of turning away or redirecting in various contexts, from everyday interactions to safety-related or political discourse.