fight

fight1 [ faıt ] (past tense and past participle fought [ fɔt ] ) verb ***

▸ 1 use weapons

▸ 2 hit/kick/bite each other

▸ 3 disagree/argue

▸ 4 try hard to prevent something

▸ 5 try hard to achieve something

▸ 6 try not to show/do something

▸ 7 compete to win/get something

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive or transitive if people fight, they use guns or other weapons against each other:

These men had fought the Japanese in Iwo Jima.

fight against: The French had no desire to fight against the British.

fight for: We believed we were fighting for freedom and democracy.

fight to do something: Allied troops fought to liberate the city.

fight a war/battle: The terrorists claim that they are fighting a just war.

fight bravely/valiantly/hard: The young soldiers fought valiantly but were soon defeated.

2. ) intransitive or transitive if people or animals fight, they hit, kick, or bite each other:

fight with: Protesters fought with the police outside the Embassy building.

fight over: Children fought over scraps of food.

fight to the death: Male lions rarely fight to the death over females.

a ) to hit someone as part of a sport, especially BOXING:

fight someone for something: He hopes to fight the champion for the world title.

3. ) intransitive to disagree or argue about something:

fight about: What are you two fighting about now?

fight over: Look, I don't want to fight over this.

4. ) intransitive or transitive to try very hard to prevent something from happening or getting worse:

The government has restated its determination to fight terrorism.

fight against: All her life she fought against racism.

5. ) intransitive or transitive to try in a very determined way to achieve something:

The survivors have fought a ten-year battle for justice.

fight to do something: Local campaigners are fighting to save the library from closing.

fight for: Many of the injured are still fighting for compensation.

6. ) transitive to try very hard not to show a feeling or not to do something you want to do:

fight the urge/impulse/desire: She fought the urge to run after him.

7. ) intransitive or transitive to compete in order to win something or get something:

Our party is ready to fight in the election.

fight for: Four teams will be fighting for a place in the finals.

fight a fire/blaze

to try to stop a large fire from burning

fight for breath

to have difficulty breathing

fight your corner

to defend your opinions when criticized by other people

fight for your life

to be very sick or injured and likely to die

fighting a losing battle

trying to achieve something that you will probably not be able to achieve:

Police are fighting a losing battle against the rising crime rate.

fighting for survival

trying to remain successful or continue to exist:

Many small businesses are now fighting for survival.

fight like cats and dogs

to fight or argue often or with a lot of anger

fight shy of BRITISH

if you fight shy of something, you do not feel willing to do it because it might cause problems for you

fight your way

to move through a group of people by pushing them away:

Steve fought his way to the front of the crowd.

have a fighting chance

to have a good chance of being successful:

The Packers still have a fighting chance of winning the title.

,fight `back phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive to hit or kick someone who is attacking you:

The course teaches women how to fight back if attacked.

2. ) intransitive to try to stop someone from criticizing you or doing something harmful:

fight back against: The concert organizers have fought back against their critics.

3. ) transitive fight back something if you fight back an emotion, you try very hard not to show it: HOLD BACK:

Mary bit her lip and fought back her tears.

,fight `off phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to stop someone who is trying to attack you:

The woman managed to fight off her attackers.

2. ) if your body fights off an illness, it prevents the illness from making you sick

,fight `out phrasal verb transitive

fight it out

if two people fight it out, they fight or argue until something is decided

fight

fight 2 [ faıt ] noun ***

▸ 1 hitting and kicking

▸ 2 disagreement/argument

▸ 3 competition to win something

▸ 4 attempt to stop/achieve

▸ 5 between soldiers

▸ 6 determination to try

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count a situation in which people hit each other:

have a fight with: He had a fight with a man outside a bar in El Paso.

fight between: Every week there are fights between rival gangs.

get into a fight: As a young man, he was always getting into fights.

pick/start a fight: The man seemed determined to pick a fight with someone.

a ) an occasion when people fight as part of a sport, especially BOXING:

Don't miss the big fight!

fight against: He knew it was going to be a hard fight against Lewis.

2. ) count a situation in which people disagree or argue with each other: DISAGREEMENT:

have a fight with: All teenagers have fights with their parents.

3. ) count a situation in which people compete in order to win or get something:

fight for: The fight for control of the company lasted several weeks.

4. ) count a determined attempt to prevent something from happening or getting worse: STRUGGLE:

fight against: This is an important step forward in the fight against terrorism.

She died yesterday after a long fight against cancer.

a ) a determined attempt to achieve something:

fight for: Sarah finally won her long fight for compensation.

a fight to do something: We will continue our fight to protect vulnerable children.

5. ) count a battle between soldiers or armies

6. ) uncount energy and determination to continue trying to achieve something:

After her husband died there was very little fight left in her.

a fight to the death

a fight or disagreement that ends when someone is killed or something is destroyed

put up a good/brave fight

to try in a determined way to achieve something even though you do not succeed

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