# fend off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fend-off
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to defend yourself against an attack or to stop someone from bothering you.

For teachers: to defend oneself against a physical attack, or to successfully resist unwanted questions, criticisms, or advances.

## Examples

- The boxer managed to fend off his opponent's punches.
- The politician had to fend off difficult questions from reporters during the press conference.
- Despite the company's declining profits, the CEO managed to fend off a hostile takeover bid from their largest competitor.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He fended off to the attackers." but "He fended off the attackers." — the verb is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'to'.

## Usage notes

- commonly used with physical attacks or metaphorical ones like questions and criticisms.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'ward off', which often implies preventing something abstract like illness or bad luck, whereas 'fend off' implies an active struggle against a direct force.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.