fight off

English

Verb

fight off (third-person singular simple present fights off, present participle fighting off, simple past and past participle fought off)

1. To succeed in defeating a challenge, or an attack.

   The platoon fought off the guerilla attack.

   The actor John Smith hopes to fight off the other nominees for the Golden Globe award.

2. To resist, particularly an infection or an emotion.

   I'm fighting off the 'flu at the moment.