fend off

English

Etymology

fend + off

Verb

to fend off (third-person singular simple present fends off, present participle fending off, simple past and past participle fended off)

1. (idiomatic) To ward off; to drive (something) away; to turn away; to defend against; to repel with force or effort.

   They tried citronella to fend off the mosquitos, to no avail.

See also

• fend against
• fend away
• fend and prove
• fend for oneself

Translations

to ward off, drive (something) away, defend against

Finnish: torjua (fi)

German: abwehren (de)