We knew we could fend them off only a little while longer.
•They could not fend off the attackers.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
fend off — verb prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening Let s avoid a confrontation head off a confrontation avert a strike • Syn: ↑debar, ↑forefend, ↑forfend, ↑obviate, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
fend someone/something off — Syn: ward off, head off, stave off, hold off, repel, repulse, resist, fight off … Synonyms and antonyms dictionary
fight someone/something off — REPEL, repulse, beat off/back, ward off, fend off, keep/hold at bay, drive away/back, force back. → fight * * * defend oneself against an attack by someone or something well fed people are better able to fight off infectious disease … Useful english dictionary
head someone/something off — 1 he went to head off the cars: INTERCEPT, divert, deflect, redirect, re route, draw away, turn away. 2 they headed off a row: FORESTALL, avert, ward … Useful english dictionary
beat someone/something off — Syn: repel, fight off, fend off, stave off, repulse, drive away/back, push back … Synonyms and antonyms dictionary
beat someone/something off — REPEL, fight off, fend off, stave off, repulse, drive away/back, force back, beat back, push back, put to flight. → beat * * * succeed in resisting an attacker or an attack ■ win against a challenge or rival … Useful english dictionary
stave off — verb prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening (Freq. 3) Let s avoid a confrontation head off a confrontation avert a strike • Syn: ↑debar, ↑forefend, ↑forfend, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
fend off someone — fend off (someone) 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… … New idioms dictionary
fend — [fend] v [Date: 1200 1300; Origin: defend] fend for yourself to look after yourself without needing help from other people ▪ The kids had to fend for themselves while their parents were away. fend off [fend sb/sth off] phr v 1.) to defend… … Dictionary of contemporary English
fend off — (someone) 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 someone/something … New idioms dictionary
fend off — 1) PHRASAL VERB If you fend off unwanted questions, problems, or people, you stop them from affecting you or defend yourself from them, but often only for a short time and without dealing with them completely. [V P n (not pron)] He looked relaxed … English dictionary
