fend (redirected from fending off)

fend someone or something off

to hold someone or something off; to fight someone or something off. We knew we could fend them off only a little while longer. They could not fend off the attackers.

shift for oneself and fend for oneself

to get along by oneself; to support oneself. I'm sorry, I can't pay your rent anymore. You'll just have to shift for yourself. When I became twenty years old, I left home and began to fend for myself.

See also: oneself, shift

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fend for yourself

to take care of yourself The girl took everything she could carry and left the boy all alone to fend for himself.

fend off somebody also fend somebody off

1. to stop someone from coming too near to you She was never very good at fending off the boys.

2. to stop someone from hurting you The young woman was able to fend off the robber.

Related vocabulary: ward off somebody/something

fend off something also fend something off

to prevent something from happening A politician has to learn how to fend off unfriendly questions, especially from the press.

Related vocabulary: stave off something