Ward off evil with a stick or a pole. ادْفَعِ الشَّرَّ عَنْكَ بِعُودٍ أَوْ عَمُودٍ.

ادْفَعِ الشَّرَّ عَنْكَ بِعُودٍ أَوْ عَمُودٍ.
قال بعضهم: إذا أتاك سائلُكَ فلا تردَّه إلا بعطية قليلة أو كثيرة تقطع بها عنك لسانه فلا يذمك، وقال آخرون: ادْفَعِ الشرَّ بما تقدر عليه.
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Ward off evil with a stick or a pole.

Some said: If someone comes to you asking for something, don't turn him away except with a small or large gift that will silence his tongue so he won't speak ill of you. Others said: Ward off evil with whatever means you have.
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أقرب الأمثال والتعابير الإنجليزية إلى «ادفع الشر عنك بعود أو عمود» بحسب المعنى هي:
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
«درهم وقاية خير من قنطار علاج.»
أي ادفع الضرر مبكرًا وبأي وسيلة متاحة قبل أن يتفاقم.
وكذلك:
"Better something than nothing."
«شيء خير من لا شيء.»
إذا كان المقصود إعطاء السائل ولو قليلًا لتجنب الذم والخصومة.
ومن جهة المعنى العام «ادفع الشر بما استطعت»، فأقرب تعبير هو:
"Do whatever it takes to keep trouble at bay."
«افعل ما يلزم لإبعاد المتاعب.»
وإذا أُريد المعنى الذي ذكره بعضهم، وهو إعطاء السائل قليلًا أو كثيرًا لقطع لسانه، فأقرب مثل إنجليزي شائع هو:
"Throw him a bone."
«ألقِ له عظمة.»
أي أعطه شيئًا يسيرًا يرضيه أو يسكته.
أما إذا كان المطلوب مثلًا إنجليزيًا مأثورًا يؤدي الفكرة العامة للمثل العربي، فأفضل مقابل هو:
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
لأنه يفيد دفع الشر أو المشكلة بما تيسر قبل أن تستفحل.
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The closest English proverbs and expressions to "ward off evil with a stick or a pole," in terms of meaning, are:
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Meaning, prevent harm early and by any means available before it worsens.
Similarly:
"Better something than nothing."
Meaning, something is better than nothing.
This is used when the intention is to give the person asking, even a little, to avoid criticism and conflict.
In terms of the general meaning of "ward off evil as best you can," the closest expression is:
"Do whatever it takes to keep trouble at bay."
And if the intended meaning, as some have mentioned, is to give the person asking, a little or a lot, to silence them, the closest common English proverb is:
"Throw him a bone."
Meaning, give him something small to satisfy or shut him up.
However, if the desired example is an English proverb that conveys the general idea of ​​the Arabic proverb, the best equivalent is:
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
This is because it emphasizes warding off harm or a problem with whatever means are available before it escalates.