This is the 6971st most frequent Dutch word.
afvangen
To intercept or catch.
Here, 'afvangen' describes the act of intercepting or catching something before it manifests into a bigger issue.
Ik wil dit probleem tijdig afvangen.
I want to intercept this problem in time.
In this sentence, 'afvangen' demonstrates catching or stopping an object's movement, specifically in the context of sports.
De keeper heeft de bal mooi afgevangen.
The goalkeeper intercepted the ball beautifully.
'Afvangen' is used metaphorically to describe addressing something before it results in an error.