fight off

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fight off

To push back or defend against someone or something that is advancing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "fight" and "off." What is the best way to fight off an attacker? If you feel like you're getting a cold, these vitamin C tablets should help you to fight it off.
See also: fight, off

fight someone or something off

to repel an attack from someone or something. We fought the enemy attack off, but they returned almost immediately. She fought off the mosquitoes all evening. Jed fought the attacker off.
See also: fight, off

fight off

Defend against, drive back, as in I've been fighting off a cold all week. This figurative use of the term, originally meaning "to repel an enemy" dates from the early 1800s.
See also: fight, off

fight off

v.
To defend against or drive back someone or something, such as a hostile force or an infection: The enemy is advancing, but the troops will fight them off. The doctor told me to rest so I can fight off this cold.
See also: fight, off
References in periodicals archive ?
A Gurkha soldier who single-handedly fought off an attack on his base by up to 30 Taliban insurgents has been awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
Gurkha awarded for bravery
SCOOP: Wine waiter Eddir Godden at the Alma de Cuba which has just won a prestigious national award Pictures: EDDIE BARFORD' TOP SPOT: Alma de Cuba fought off strong competition to win the best interior prize at a national design awards ceremony in London
City centre bar scoops design award
A SHOPKEEPER fought off a baseball bat-wielding robber by hurling a bin at the thug.
RAIDER IS BINNED
A COUPLE bravely fought off two robbers wielding an axe and a machete.
Couple fight off robbers; CRIME: Raiders with axe and machete bravely thwarted
The young woman fought off her attackers in Cox Street, near Coventry Sports Centre.
Woman fights off city centre kidnappers; ABDUCTION BID: Pair try to grab 23-year-old off busy street
A rare breed of dog fought off two men as they tried to steal the pet while out for a walk with his owner.
Dogged defence
Villagers who fought off controversial proposals for a new housing estate were dismayed yesterday as developers submitted new plans for the site.
Villagers left feeling flat as homes battle looms
After the first infection it usually lies dormant in the gut and any reactivation is easily fought off by a healthy immune system.
LURKING VIRUS A THREAT TO WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEMS
After the orange male fought off the blue one, she tracked the amount of corticosterone in the marked male for a week.
Do orange lizards wish they were blue?
Summary: Rafael Nadal fought off a tenacious Andy Murray to reach the final of the ATP World Tour Finals afer a ferocious three-set thriller.
Nadal edges Murray in semi-final thriller
A BRAVE schoolgirl fought off a masked sex beast as he attacked her in her own home.
Girl, 15 fights off attacker; Exclusive
A MAN fought off a would-be robber after he was attacked outside Leamington railway station.
Man, 20 sees off attack pair
After the final session, the researchers injected all of the mice's ears with melanoma cells from genetically identical mice to see how well their immune system fought off the cancerous cells.
Sunscreen can't give blanket protection
By MIRROR REPORTER A YOUNG woman fought off an attacker early yesterday amid fears a prowler may be targeting female students.
ATTACK TERROR
A WOMAN successfully fought off a would-be robber after she took out money as a cashpoint machine.
Woman sees off man who tried to rob her at cashpoint machine
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