fight off
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to defend yourself against a physical attack or a challenge so that you are not defeated.
to repel an aggressor or defeat a challenge through physical or strategic resistance.
Simple“The small army managed to fight off the invaders for three days.”
In context“The security team successfully fought off the cyberattack, though the hackers managed to briefly disrupt the main server.”
UsageThis is a transitive phrasal verb; the object can sit between 'fight' and 'off'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to try to stay healthy when you feel like you are getting sick.
to resist the onset or progression of a pathogen or infection through the body's natural immune response.
Simple“I am drinking plenty of orange juice to help fight off this cold.”
In context“The patient's immune system was too weakened by the previous treatment to effectively fight off the secondary infection.”
UsageCommonly used with objects like 'cold', 'flu', 'infection', or 'virus'.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
to try hard not to show or feel a strong emotion, like sleepiness or tears.
to consciously resist or suppress an internal physiological or emotional state.
Simple“She tried to fight off sleep during the long, boring meeting.”
In context“He struggled to fight off a rising sense of panic as he realised he had lost his passport in the crowded terminal.”
UsageOften used with 'tears', 'sleep', 'panic', or 'boredom'.
highlight the metaphorical extension from physical combat to biological resistance; it is more active and effortful than simply 'recovering' from a cold.