I. fight 1 S1 W1 /faɪt/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle fought /fɔːt $ fɒːt/)
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: feohtan ]
1 . WAR [intransitive and transitive] to take part in a war or battle
fight in
the families of those who fought in the war
fight against/with
rebel forces fighting against the Russians
fight about/over/for
They fought for control of the islands.
Neither country is capable of fighting a long war.
Later the Indians fought the Anglo settlers.
2 . HIT PEOPLE [intransitive and transitive] if someone fights another person, or if two people fight, they hit and kick the other person in order to hurt them
fight with
Two guys were fighting with each other in the street.
fight about/over/for
They were fighting over a girl.
She fought him desperately, kicking and biting.
3 . TRY TO DO SOMETHING [intransitive and transitive] to try hard to do or get something
fight for
The men were fighting for higher wages.
Stockley is fighting for his life (=trying to stay alive) , with serious head injuries.
She fought her way back into the first team.
fight to do something
The president was fighting to survive.
4 . PREVENT SOMETHING [intransitive and transitive] to try very hard to prevent something or to get rid of something unpleasant that already exists
fight against
People are fighting against repression and injustice.
We will fight terrorism, wherever it exists.
5 . COMPETE [intransitive and transitive] to take part in an election or compete strongly for something, especially a job or political position
fight an election/a campaign
The prime minister decided to fight an early general election.
fight (somebody) for something
He had to fight several other applicants for the job.
Both men were used to fighting for power.
6 . ARGUE [intransitive] to argue about something
fight with
I heard her fighting with the boss.
fight about/over
They’re fighting about who should do the dishes.
7 . SPORT [intransitive and transitive] to take part in a ↑ boxing match:
Ali fought Foreman for the heavyweight title.
8 . EMOTION [intransitive and transitive] to try very hard not to have or show a feeling:
She fought her fear.
fight with
She was clearly fighting with her emotions.
9 . LAW [transitive] to try to get something or prevent something in a court of law:
The insurance company are fighting the claims in court.
10 . fight your way (through/past etc somebody/something) to move somewhere with difficulty, for example because there are so many people around you:
We fought our way through the crowd.
11 . fight a losing battle to try to do something that you probably cannot succeed in doing:
I’m fighting a losing battle on this diet.
12 . have a fighting chance to have a chance to do something or achieve something if you try very hard:
Lewis has a fighting chance to win the gold medal.
13 . fight tooth and nail (for something)/fight something tooth and nail to try very hard to do or achieve something, or to prevent something:
He’s rich now, but he had to fight tooth and nail for it.
14 . fight to the death/finish to fight until one person or group is dead or completely defeated
15 . fight your own battles to fight for what you want, without needing help from other people:
Mum, I can fight my own battles now.
16 . fighting spirit the desire to fight or win:
In the second half the team showed their true fighting spirit.
17 . fighting words/talk something you say that shows that you want to fight hard for something
18 . fight fire with fire to use the same methods as your opponents in an argument, competition etc
19 . fight like cat and dog if two people fight like cat and dog, they argue a lot because they dislike each other or disagree:
I didn’t get on with her at work either – we fought like cat and dog.
20 . fighting fit British English extremely fit and healthy
21 . fight your corner British English to try to persuade people that your ideas about something are right and should be accepted:
The Prime Minister made it clear that Britain would fight its corner on Europe.
22 . fight shy of (doing) something British English to try to avoid doing something or being involved in something:
Many women fight shy of motherhood.
fight back phrasal verb
1 . to work hard to achieve or oppose something, especially in a situation where you are losing:
United fought back and scored a last-minute goal.
fight back against
She was fighting back against the cancer.
2 . to use violence or arguments against someone who has attacked you or argued with you:
The rebels are fighting back.
3 . fight something ↔ back to try hard not to have or show a feeling:
She looked away, fighting back her tears.
He fought back the impulse to slap her.
fight something ↔ down phrasal verb
to try hard not to have or show a feeling:
Doug fought down a feeling of panic.
fight somebody/something ↔ off phrasal verb
1 . to keep someone away, or stop them doing something to you, by fighting or opposing them:
Bodyguards had to fight off the crowds.
The company managed to fight off a takeover attempt.
2 . to succeed in stopping other people getting something, and to get it for yourself:
Allan fought off stiff competition from throughout the UK to win one of only four places at the college.
3 . to try hard to get rid of something, especially an illness or a feeling:
Elaine’s fighting off a cold.
fight something out phrasal verb
to argue or fight until a disagreement is settled:
We left them to fight it out.
II. fight 2 S2 W3 BrE AmE noun
1 . PEOPLE HIT EACH OTHER [countable] a situation in which two people or groups hit, push etc each other:
Her son was always getting into fights at school.
fight with
They ended up having a fight with each other.
fight between
A fight broke out between the fans.
fight over/about
fights over territory
2 . TO ACHIEVE/PREVENT SOMETHING [singular] the process of trying to achieve something or prevent something
fight for
the fight for justice and democracy
The little girl lost her fight for life (=fight to stay alive) last night.
fight against
the fight against crime
fight to do something
the fight to get financial aid
You’ll have a fight on your hands (=it will be difficult) to convince the committee.
3 . ARGUMENT [countable] an argument
fight with
They’ve had a fight with the neighbours.
fight over/about
fights over money
4 . BOXING [countable] a ↑ boxing match:
Are you going to watch the big fight tonight?
5 . BATTLE [countable] a battle between two armies
fight for
the fight for Bunker Hill
6 . ENERGY [uncountable] energy or the desire to keep fighting for something you want:
There’s plenty of fight left in your grandmother.
7 . put up a good fight to work very hard to fight or compete in a difficult situation:
Our team put up a good fight.
8 . a fight to the death/finish a fight that continues until one side is completely defeated
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have a fight
I didn’t want to have a fight with him.
▪ get into a fight (=become involved in a fight)
The two men got into a fight over a girl.
▪ start a fight
They started a fight in the crowded bar.
▪ pick a fight (=deliberately start a fight)
The guy tried to pick a fight with Jack.
▪ stop a fight/break up a fight
The police were called in to break up a fight outside a nightclub.
▪ win/lose a fight
He always won every fight he was in at school.
▪ be spoiling for a fight (=be very eager to fight with someone)
The kids went round in gangs, all spoiling for a fight.
▪ a fight breaks out/erupts (=suddenly starts)
A fight broke out and one man was struck on the head.
▪ a fight takes place (=happens)
The fight took place outside a nightclub.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + fight
▪ a big fight
They ended up having a big fight in the pub.
▪ a fair fight
It was a fair fight, just two on two.
▪ a fierce fight
There was a fierce fight with rebel forces and several soldiers were killed.
▪ a street fight
There were reports of street fights every night in the local newspaper.
▪ a fist fight (=a fight in which people hit each other with their closed hands)
A fist fight broke out after the match.
▪ a knife/sword fight
There have been several arrests, following knife fights between drunken fans.
▪ a title fight (=a fight between two boxers to decide who will win a competition)
a heavyweight title fight
• • •
THESAURUS
■ when people hit or attack each other
▪ fight a situation in which people hit or attack each other because of an argument, or as a sport:
He had a fight with an older boy.
|
the famous fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman
▪ battle a fight between opposing armies or groups of people:
The English king was killed at the Battle of Hastings.
|
a battle between two rival gangs
▪ scuffle a short fight that is not very violent:
There was a short scuffle with the police, but no arrests were made.
▪ punch-up British English informal a fight in which people hit each other because of an argument:
The game turned into a punch-up.
▪ brawl a noisy fight between a group of people:
He was hurt in a drunken brawl.
▪ altercation formal a short noisy argument or fight, especially one that is not serious:
There was a brief altercation and someone called the police.
▪ riot a fight involving a large number of people, especially people who are protesting about something:
The book provoked riots all over Europe.
■ when people try to achieve something
▪ fight the process in which people try to stop something bad from happening or to improve a situation:
Schools have an important part to play in the fight against drugs.
|
women’s fight for equality
▪ battle a fight to change a situation or deal with a problem in society:
The battle against racial discrimination is not over.
▪ campaign a planned series of actions intended to achieve something:
Motoring organizations started a campaign for safer roads.
▪ struggle a long, hard fight for freedom, independence, equal rights etc:
Nkrumah led the people in their struggle for independence.
▪ crusade someone’s fight against something they think is morally wrong:
She intends to continue her crusade against sex and violence on TV.