fend

Universal Words verb PHRASALVERBS fend for yourself to look after yourself without help from anyone else: His parents agreed to pay the rent for his apartment but otherwise left him to fend for himself. * The fox was released into the wild when it was old enough to fend for itself. fend sth/sb<->off 1 to defend or protect yourself from sb/sth that is attacking you: The police officer fended off the blows with his riot shield. 2 to protect yourself from difficult questions, criticisms, etc., especially by avoiding them: She managed to fend off questions about new tax increases. * The Prime Minister fended off three challenges to her leadership.