fight (redirected from fighting way)

an uphill battle/fight/struggle

if something you are trying to do is an uphill struggle, it is very difficult, often because other people are causing problems for you. Environmentalists face an uphill struggle convincing people to use their cars less. We're trying to expand our business, but it's an uphill battle.

See also: battle

be fighting fit

to be very healthy. She was fighting fit after 10 weeks of intense physical training.

See also: fit

be fighting for your life

1. to be so ill or injured that you might die. One of the passengers was fighting for her life last night after receiving multiple injuries in the collision.

2. if an organization or system is fighting for its life, people are trying very hard to prevent it from being defeated or destroyed. With debts of over $2 million dollars, the corporation is fighting for its life.

See also: life

be fighting mad (American & Australian, informal)

to be very angry. When Dad finds out you've crashed the car, he'll be fighting mad.

See also: mad

be in fighting trim (mainly American)

ready to deal with a situation, especially because you are in good physical condition. It was a challenging performance, but the dancers were in fighting trim.

See also: trim

be spoiling for a fight

to be very eager to fight or argue about something. The trouble was caused by a group of demonstrators who were obviously spoiling for a fight.

See also: spoil

come out fighting (British, American & Australian, mainly American)

if someone comes out fighting, they defend themselves or something they believe in, in a very determined way. They were criticized from all sides but they came out fighting. The candidates came out swinging in the first few minutes of the debate.

See also: come

couldn't [act/argue/fight] your way out of a paper bag (humorous)

if someone couldn't act, argue, fight etc. their way out of a paper bag, they act, argue, fight etc. very badly. It's no good asking Jim to protect you - he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag.

See also: act, argue, bag, couldn't, paper, way

fight a losing battle

to try hard to do something when there is no chance that you will succeed. We try our best to cope with the workload but we're fighting a losing battle. (usually in continuous tenses)

See also: battle

fight a rearguard action

to try very hard to prevent something from happening when it is probably too late to prevent it. The unions were fighting a rearguard action against the government's attempt to strip them of their powers. (often + against)

See also: action

fight your corner (British)

to defend something that you believe in by arguing. You'll have to be ready to fight your corner if you want them to extend the project.

See also: corner

fight fire with fire

to attack someone with a lot of force because they are attacking you with force. In the face of stiff competition from rival firms we had to fight fire with fire and slash our prices.

See also: fire

a fight for life

be fighting for your life - to be so ill or injured that you might die. Throughout Christopher's fight for life, his parents never left his bedside.

See also: life

fight like cat and dog (British & Australian, British & American)

to argue violently all the time. We get on very well as adults but as kids we fought like cat and dog.

See also: cat, dog, like

fight shy of something/doing something

to try to avoid something. He fought shy of entering his poems in the competition, although everyone said he should. Ellen fights shy of parties - she hates crowds.

See also: shy

fight tooth and claw/nail

to fight very hard to achieve something. We fought tooth and nail to retain our share of the business. (often + to do something)

See also: claw, nail, tooth

[fight/run/work etc.] like hell

if you fight, run or work like hell, you do it a lot or very quickly. We heard the alarm and ran like hell.

See also: hell, like, run, work

a fighting chance

a small but real possibility that you might do or achieve something. If we can raise another thousand pounds we'll have a fighting chance of saving the theatre. (often + of + doing something) A good education will ensure that even the most disadvantaged children are given a fighting chance.

See also: chance

live to fight another day

to lose a fight or competition but not be completely defeated and therefore be able to try again in the future. The anti-pollution campaigners lost the debate but lived to fight another day.

See also: another, day, live

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fight a losing battle

to try hard but fail. For years it seems we have been fighting a losing battle against poverty and hunger. In an old house, you're always fighting a losing battle with dust and dirt.

Usage notes: sometimes used without fight: Many teachers feel they are in a losing battle for learning and order.

See also: battle

fight fire with fire

to deal with someone in the same way that they are dealing with you. In the face of stiff competition we had to fight fire with fire and cut our prices.

See also: fire

fight it out

1. to argue fiercely until agreement is reached. For at least two years these two companies have been fighting it out over who holds the trademark.

2. to compete against a team or organization until one side wins. Seattle and Phoenix fought it out up to the last day of the regular basketball season.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of fight it out (= to fight to end a disagreement)

fight off something

1. to get rid of something, esp. an illness. Her body couldn't fight the infection off.

2. to keep yourself from doing something you should not do. I was trying to fight off the urge to sneak into the kitchen for something to eat.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of fight off (= to use physical force against someone)

fight (someone/something) tooth and nail

to use a lot of effort to oppose someone or achieve something. We fought tooth and nail to keep our share of the business. They vowed to fight the new legislation tooth and nail.

See also: nail, tooth

have a fighting chance

to have a reasonable likelihood. The Socialist Party has a fighting chance to win control of the French government.

Usage notes: often used in the form not have a fighting chance: If they don't like the way you perform in practice, you don't have a fighting chance of getting into a game.

level the playing field

See also: chance

pick a fight (with someone)

to intentionally start a fight or argument with someone. When she was first in Congress, she foolishly picked a fight with a very powerful politician.

See also: pick

spoiling for a fight

to be very eager to fight or argue. He says what he thinks, and so people think he always seems to be spoiling for a fight.

See also: spoil