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 ?
The girl lashed out and fought off the man before she managed to struggle free.
CRIME SCENE: Land off Norman Place Road, where the girl fought off an attacker
GIRL,12,FIGHTS OFF ATTACK BY MAN; Terrified victim struggles free after attempt to drag her into bushes
Price fought off a stomach cramp to win his third title in a row at Lake Casitas on Friday.
CROSS COUNTRY: PRICE ISN'T RIGHT, BUT STILL WINS
Using CEQA, opponents have successfully fought off industrial facilities near neighborhoods, oil drilling off the coast and housing in open space, the report said.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS TOUT LAND-USE LAW'S SUCCESSES
said it had fought off an attempted software virus attack Tuesday that was aimed at shutting down some of the company's Web sites.
BRIEFCASE WALGREENS TO GET OUT OF COMP PLAN?
V-AA Championship, Grace Brethren of Simi Valley fought off Tri-City Christian of Vista for a 26-24, 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-13 victory in a Div.
GIRL'S VOLLEYBALL: GRACE BRETHREN TAKES FIVE G. BRETHREN 3, TRI-CITY CHRIST. 2
Henin-Hardenne held to get to 5-3, and fought off two set points (three total) to win on Myskina's serve and get to 5-4.
WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS: DESPITE FLU, BELGIAN FINDS WAY TO WIN HENIN-HARDENNE DEFEATS MYSKINA IN 3-SET COMEBACK
Greg Owen (Ford) fought off three Stanford swimmers to win the 200 meter breaststroke in 2:20.
JANET EVANS INVITATIONAL: USC'S SANDENO WINS THIRD EVENT
Mullinax, who has fought off earlier efforts to weaken his investigative power, said independence is crucial to his ability to do his job properly.
LAUSD OPERATING OFFICER MOVES TO LEASH MULLINAX
Down 6-5 and serving, Seles fell behind but fought off three match points.
DAVENPORT CAN'T FINISH JOB SHE FAILS TO PUT SELES AWAY IN FIRST-ROUND LOSS
TARZANA - Police cordoned off a San Fernando Valley neighborhood near Reseda Boulevard on Sunday after a resident fought off a gunman man who tried to take his car, officials said.
BRIEFLY NEIGHBORHOOD SCENE OF SEARCH
Campbell Hall 10, Mayfield 8: Daron Moore of Campbell Hall fought off two match points to defeat Carla Tamborini 7-5 at No.
TENNIS ROUNDUP: CALABASAS GETS VICTORY
Before losing to Davenport 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday at the Manhattan Country Club, Seles had thrice played three-set matches, had fought off six match points to Serena Williams and had upended top-seeded Martina Hingis for the second week in a row.
INSIDE LOOK: WORN-OUT SELES SHOULD BE READY FOR U.S. OPEN
Fifteenth-seeded Roosevelt High of Los Angeles (23-8-1) staked itself to an early six-run lead, then fought off a five-run seventh-inning rally to take a 12-9 victory over host Granada Hills (21-10) Tuesday in a City Bracket quarterfinal game.
ROUNDUP: GRANADA HILLS' RALLY FIZZLES IN QUARTERFINALS
Six years ago, Santa Clarita successfully - and rightfully - fought off BFI's attempt to open a landfill in Elsmere Canyon.
EDITORIAL THE NEIGHBOR'S TRASH THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY BECOMES THE SOUTHLAND'S DUMPING GROUNDS
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