fend
fend — verb
1. to push away or stop something that is attacking or threatening you, or to keep
to push away or stop something that is attacking or threatening you, or to keep an unwanted person or thing at a distance
The goalkeeper fended off three powerful shots in the final minutes of the match.
fend off + concrete object (shots)
Eli fended off a swarm of mosquitoes by lighting a citronella candle on the patio.
fend off + living threat (mosquitoes)
The small bookstore fended off competition from a large chain by offering rare titles and author events.
Sora used a wooden stick to fend off the stray dog that had followed him home.
Karim drinks ginger tea every morning during winter to fend off colds and sore throats.
- repel
more formal; suggests driving back with force, often military or scientific
- ward off
interchangeable with 'fend off'; slightly more common for illness or bad luck
- keep at bay
idiomatic; suggests holding a threat at a distance without eliminating it
文法句型
fend + off + noun phrase
用法筆記
Nearly always used with 'off' as a phrasal verb. The object is typically a concrete attack, threat, illness, or competitor — not an abstract idea.
常見錯誤
2. to take care of yourself and meet your basic needs — such as finding food, shelt
to take care of yourself and meet your basic needs — such as finding food, shelter, or money — without help from other people
Rin moved to a new city at eighteen and had to learn to fend for herself quickly.
fend for + reflexive pronoun (herself)
The stray kittens were old enough at eight weeks to fend for themselves without their mother.
fend for + themselves (animals)
During the three-day power outage, the neighbours agreed nobody should have to fend for themselves alone.
Élise's parents urged her to take a summer job and learn to fend for herself financially.
After the war, orphans were left to fend for themselves on the city streets.
- shift for oneself
older, less common; means the same but sounds dated in modern English
- get by on one's own
slightly informal; emphasises coping with limited resources
- manage alone
more general; can apply to tasks rather than full survival
- depend on others
opposite of self-reliance
- be supported
opposite of providing for yourself
文法句型
fend + for + reflexive pronoun (yourself, himself, herself, themselves)
用法筆記
Always used with a reflexive pronoun (yourself, himself, herself, itself, themselves) followed by 'for'. The subject is usually a person or a living creature becoming independent.