fight something off Definition

fight
verb fought, fighting

tr & intr
1. To attack or engage (an enemy, army, etc) in combat.
2. To take part in or conduct (a battle, campaign, etc).
tr & intr
3. To oppose them (eg an enemy, a person, an illness, a cause, etc) vigorously.

Form: fight against something (sometimes)
Form: fight against someone
intr
4. To quarrel; to disagree, sometimes coming to blows.

Example: They fought all evening
Thesaurus: squabble, altercate, grapple, lock horns, argue, clash, exchange blows, dispute, quarrel, spar.
intr
5. To struggle or campaign on its or their behalf; to struggle or campaign in an attempt to achieve or maintain it.

Example: fight for the right to remain silent
Thesaurus: campaign, argue, work, petition, proselytize, pull strings, lobby.
Form: fight for something (often)
Form: fight for someone
intr
6. To make (one's way) with a struggle.

noun

1. A battle; a physically violent struggle.

Thesaurus: skirmish, scuffle, hostilities, fracas, conflict, combat, brawl, duel, battle, bout, scrap.
2. A quarrel; a dispute; a contest.
3. Resistance.
4. The will or strength to resist.

Example: lost all his fight
5. A boxing-match.
6. A campaign or crusade.

Example: the fight for freedom

Idiom: fight a losing battle

To continue trying for something when there is little chance of succeeding.
Example: She was fighting a losing battle against the illness

Idiom: fighting fit

colloq
In vigorous health.

Idiom: fight it out

To fight over something until one side wins.

Idiom: fight shy of something

To avoid it.

Idiom: fight to the finish

To fight until completely exhausted.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon feohtan.

Phrasal Verb: fight back

To resist an attacker; to counter an attack.

Phrasal Verb: fight something back or down

To try not to show one's emotions, etc.

Phrasal Verb: fight someone off

To repulse them (especially an attacker).

Phrasal Verb: fight something off

To get rid of or resist (an illness).