odvraćati

1. (someone from something) to dissuade; to talk out of
   Roditelji su je dugo odvraćali od te odluke. — Her parents tried for a long time to talk her out of that decision.
   Ne odvraćaj me od puta, već sam kupio kartu. — Don't try to talk me out of the trip, I've already bought the ticket.
2. (of attention, thoughts) to distract; to divert
   Telefon me stalno odvraća od učenja. — My phone keeps distracting me from studying.
   Političari odvraćaju pažnju javnosti od pravih problema. — Politicians divert the public's attention from the real problems.
3. (of gaze, face) to avert; to turn away
   Kad ga pitam za novac, on odvraća pogled. — When I ask him about the money, he looks away.
4. (to someone's words) to reply; to retort
   „Nije tačno“, odvraćao je mirno. — "That's not true," he replied calmly.
   Na svaku kritiku odvraća istom merom. — He answers every criticism in kind.

Usually used with od + genitive: odvraćati nekoga od nečega.