Fend off means fight off or hold back an attack, a rival, criticism or unwanted attention: the champions fended off a strong challenge in the final minutes. Fend off questions means avoid awkward questions, often without answering them. Sometimes you fend off kind people too: she had to fend off offers of help.
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fend off an attack / criticism / questions; fend someone off
- The spokesperson fended off questions about the missing report.
- The champions fended off a strong challenge in the final minutes.
- She had to fend off persistent offers of help.
What changed
First versionHe fended the criticism away with a detailed explanation.
RevisionHe fended the criticism off with a detailed explanation.
Push away and keep away make away feel like the natural choice. But this verb takes off: fended the criticism off or fended off the criticism. Away belongs to other phrases, like keep away.
Answer questions means respond to them. Fend off questions means push them back, often dodging the answer. Ward off means keep something away in advance, usually illness or danger: ward off a cold. Fend for yourself is something else: take care of yourself without help.
Your turn
Complete the expression meaning defend against: The team fended ___ several challenges.
Show the answer
off — You fend something off: fended off several challenges. Away doesn't form this expression with fend.
Describe how you or someone else fended off annoying questions, advice or criticism.
The designer fended off criticism by explaining how the materials had been tested.
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