fend

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fend against (something)

To guard against or ward something off. That's why you get an alarm system—to fend against burglars.
See also: fend

fend and prove

dated To argue and defend a point or opinion. I was forced to fend and prove my stance before the tribunal.
See also: and, fend, prove

fend away

To turn away or deny; to keep something at bay; to fight or ward off. The governor fended away questions about his role in the money laundering scandal. I fended away the blows of my attackers.
See also: away, fend

fend for (oneself)

To look after or take care of oneself without assistance from anyone else. Moving to a new country for college really made me learn to fend for myself. I won't be home from work until about 9 o'clock, so you and your sister will have to fend for yourselves for dinner. You're going to have to learn to fend for yourself before you head off to college.
See also: fend

fend off

1. To fight off someone or something that is advancing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "fend" and "off." What is the best way to fend off an attacker? Her bodyguards tried to fend off all the photographers, but there were too many.
2. To try to prevent something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "fend" and "off." Getting a flu shot will help you to fend off future illness.
See also: fend, off

fend for oneself Go to shift for

oneself.
See also: fend, go, shift

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.
See also: fend, off

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: shift

shift for oneself

Also, fend for oneself. Provide for one's own needs, as in Don't worry about Anne; she's very good at shifting for herself, or The children had to fend for themselves after school. The first term, using shift in the now obsolete sense of "manage," was first recorded about 1513; the variant, using fend for in the sense of "look after," was first recorded in 1629.
See also: shift

fend against

v.
To protect from something: We wear heavy parkas to fend against the cold wind.
See also: fend

fend for

v.
To provide for, take care of, or defend someone without assistance: We watched the bear fending for her cubs as the hunters approached. I had to fend for myself when I arrived in Europe alone.
See also: fend

fend off

v.
1. To try to prevent something; avert something: To fend off cavities, brush your teeth regularly.
2. To turn something aside; repel something: The troops fended the enemy off. My neighbor fended off the reporters who blocked her driveway.
See also: fend, off
References in periodicals archive ?
Simwa does not do any work and depends on his younger brother to fend for him,'' he said.The body of the dead man was taken to Vihiga County Referral Hospital mortuary in Mbale.
Vihiga man kills brother in quarrel over who should cook
Norwegian electric car company Think has reportedly fended of bankruptcy by securing an emergency funding package in the form of a NOK40m loan from investors.
Norwegian electric car company Think secures NOK40m emergency loan, fends off bankruptcy - report
Thompson and his colleagues began with bacteria from the genus Streptomyces, soil bacteria that share an ancestor with Mycobacterium and are champions of producing antibiotics that fend off other microbes.
Target practice: researchers shoot for new treatments against tuberculosis
On another front, this issue of Best's Review looks at how the alternative risk market was affected by the hurricanes and fends that many think the greatest impact is yet to come.
Weathering the after-waves
Ada fends off the evil characters who want her and her farm for themselves.
Together Ada and Ruby develop the farm, make use of the land, fend off the predators, both human and animal, while they wait for Inman's return from the war.
A journey worthy of Ulysses
Without hesitation Margaret sets out to chase off Beau's older lover; she also covers up a crime she believes her son committed and frantically fends off blackmailers.
Why not educate their communities, eradicate bigotry, and fend off homophobic assailants?
DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW?
PAPAYA Plenty of vitamin C which helps the body heal and fends off colds.
BLUEBERRIES One of the superfoods, blueberry's beta-carotene helps promote eye health while its flavanoids help blood circulation and have a strong antioxidant function to fend off a range of illnesses.
Family Life: Feel the benefits of getting fruity; NUTRITION: Boost your vitamin intake with a rainbow diet Fitness
Using a double-barreled approach to immunization, scientists have created a combination of vaccines that fends off deadly Ebola virus in monkeys.
Vaccine protects monkeys from Ebola virus
CHARLES Worthington fends off humidity with its Curl Protector Mousse for pounds 4.49.
Protect your locks
This suggests significant mucosal immunity--so named because it fends off microbes that latch onto the mucus-lined surfaces of the mouth and throat.
DNA vaccine immunizes fetal lambs
Each spider fends for itself within the scaffolding, however, ejecting other spider intruders and parasites, hiding from predators, and catching insects that land on its own orb.
Spider Solidarity Forever
It also fends off infection-causing fungi and bacteria.
A better band-aid?
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