fend

Everyday

1. To fend for yourself is to look after yourself without help. tree →
2. To fend off someone or something is to push it away or defend yourself against it. tree →
3. (rugby) A fend or hand-off is pushing away a tackler with your arm. tree →

In the lessons

Everyday life and stories: young animals learning to fend for themselves, fending off an attack, fending off questions. Phrases: fend for yourself, fend off.

Examples

• Baby turtles must fend for themselves from the start. tree →
• When Mum was ill, we had to fend for ourselves at dinner time. tree →
• The knight fended off the dragon with his shield. tree →
• She fended off the reporters' questions. tree →
• The goalkeeper fended off a hard shot. tree →
• Fox cubs learn to fend for themselves by autumn. tree →
• The following morning, instead of one, three cows stood on the island, and they all ate seaweed and fended for themselves like the first one. tree →

Note

Almost always used as «fend for» or «fend off». Related: defend, fender (car bumper in the US; fireguard in the UK).