fend off

Friendly

Explanation of "Fend Off"

Definition: The phrase "fend off" is a verb that means to defend yourself against something or to prevent it from happening. It often refers to avoiding an unwanted situation or stopping an attack.

Advanced Usage:

• "Fend off" can be used in various contexts, including physical defense (like fighting off an attacker) or metaphorical situations (like dealing with criticism or negative emotions).
• You might also see it used in a business context, as in "fending off competition."

Word Variants:

• Fended (past tense): "He fended off the aggressive dog."
• Fending (present participle): "She is fending off the questions with a smile."

Different Meanings:

• While "fend off" primarily means to defend or prevent, it can also imply managing or coping with a situation.

Synonyms:

• Ward off
• Repel
• Avoid
• Avert
• Defend against

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Ward off: Similar to "fend off," meaning to keep something away.

  • Example: "She wore garlic to ward off vampires."

• Head off: To prevent something from happening by going ahead of it.

  • Example: "They decided to head off the traffic jam by taking a different route."

Summary:

"Fend off" is a useful phrase to describe the action of protecting oneself from something unwanted, whether it’s a physical threat, a problem, or a situation.

Academic

Verb

1. prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
   • Let's avoid a confrontation
   • head off a confrontation
   • avert a strike