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fend off

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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

fend off somebody

also fend somebody off

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 somebody/something

See also: fend, off

fend off something

also fend something off

to prevent something from happening A politician has to learn how to fend off unfriendly questions, especially from the press.

Related vocabulary: stave off something

See also: fend, off

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