Fend sb off Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Fend sb off” Mean?

“Fend sb off” means to defend yourself against someone or something that is trying to bother or attack you. It often involves keeping unwanted people or problems away.

Introduction

The phrase “fend sb off” is a useful phrasal verb in English that means to protect yourself from someone or something that may cause trouble or harm. The “sb” stands for “somebody,” which means the verb usually involves a person. For example, you might fend off a salesperson who is trying to sell something you don’t want, or fend off an attacker in a difficult situation. Understanding the “fend sb off meaning” helps learners use this phrase naturally in conversations, especially when talking about defending or protecting oneself. This phrase is common in both spoken and written English, making it important to learn for practical communication.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: fend somebody off
• Type: transitive
• Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
• Short meaning: to defend yourself from someone or something

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Fend sb off” is a separable phrasal verb, meaning you can place the object (somebody) between “fend” and “off” or after the whole phrase.

• Pattern 1: fend somebody off
• Pattern 2: fend off somebody

Example:

• She fended the attacker off.
• She fended off the attacker.

Both are correct and commonly used.

How to Use “Fend sb off”?

You use “fend sb off” when talking about protecting yourself from people or things that bother or threaten you. It is often used in situations involving unwanted attention, attacks, or problems. The phrase can be used in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in everyday spoken English. It can also be used metaphorically, for example, to fend off questions or criticism.

Examples

Imagine you are at a busy market and a salesperson keeps approaching you. You can say:

• “I had to fend off several salespeople today.”
• “He fended off the aggressive questions during the interview.”
• “They managed to fend off the attackers until help arrived.”
• “She fended off the mosquitoes with insect repellent.”
• “We tried to fend off the cold by wearing warm clothes.”

These examples show how “fend sb off” can be used in different contexts.

Common Mistakes

Many learners confuse the word order or use the wrong preposition. Here are some common errors and the correct forms:

• Incorrect: fend off somebody (when “somebody” is a pronoun)
• Correct: fend somebody off (use this order with pronouns)
• Incorrect: fend someone away
• Correct: fend someone off

Remember, when using pronouns like “him,” “her,” or “them,” place the pronoun between “fend” and “off.”

Differences / Synonyms

“Fend sb off” is similar to phrases like “ward off,” “fight off,” or “keep away.” However, each has subtle differences:

• Ward off: Usually means to prevent something bad from coming near, often used with illness or danger.
• Fight off: Implies actively struggling to defeat or resist.
• Keep away: Means to stay at a distance or prevent approach.

“Fend sb off” suggests a defensive action to protect oneself without necessarily fighting aggressively. It’s less intense than “fight off” but more active than just “keeping away.”

Common Collocations

“Fend sb off” is often used with certain common objects or people. Here are some collocations:

• Fend off attackers: to defend yourself from people trying to harm you.
• Fend off questions: to avoid answering or dealing with questions.
• Fend off salespeople: to avoid unwanted sales offers.
• Fend off criticism: to defend yourself from negative feedback.
• Fend off illness: to prevent getting sick.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of fend sb off:

• Fend Sth Off

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “fend sb off”:

Anna: Did you have a good time at the fair?

Ben: It was fun, but I had to fend off a lot of street vendors trying to sell me things.

Anna: That sounds annoying! How did you manage?

Ben: I just kept saying “No, thanks” and walked away quickly.

Practice

Choose the correct sentence:

• A) She fended off the angry fans.
• B) She fended the angry fans off.
• C) She fended away the angry fans.
• D) Both A and B are correct.

Answer: D) Both A and B are correct.

FAQs

• What does “fend sb off” mean? It means to protect or defend yourself from someone or something unwanted.
• Is “fend off” separable? Yes, you can put the object either between “fend” and “off” or after the phrase.
• Can “fend sb off” be used with things other than people? Yes, it can be used to describe defending against problems, diseases, or insects.
• Is “fend sb off” formal or informal? It is mostly informal but acceptable in many contexts.
• What is a common mistake with “fend sb off”? Using “fend off him” instead of “fend him off” when using pronouns.