fend somebody/something off
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++fend somebody/something off → fend somebody/something off at fend(2)
fend somebody/something off
fend somebody/something off phrasal verb (see also fend)
1. to defend yourself against someone who is attacking you
SYN fight somebody ↔ off:
Tabitha threw up an arm to fend her attacker off.
2. to defend yourself from something such as difficult questions, competition, or a situation you do not want to deal with:
She uses her secretary to fend off unwanted phone calls.
The company managed to fend off the hostile takeover bid.
fend somebody/something off phrasal verb (see also fend)
1. to defend yourself against someone who is attacking you
SYN fight somebody ↔ off:
2. to defend yourself from something such as difficult questions, competition, or a situation you do not want to deal with: