1fend for yourselfINDEPENDENT PERSONto look after yourself without needing help from other people 独立生活;照料自己
The kids had to fend for themselves while their parents were away.
父母不在家时,孩子们只好自己照料自己。
Examples from the Corpus
fend for yourself• We were left to fend for ourselves.• Young Basque men emigrated because no patrimony could by custom be divided, leaving younger sons to fend for themselves.• The motherdied before the cubs were old enough to fend for themselves.• Small amounts of food must be left for the birds until they learn to fend for themselves.• The captainradioed for assistance, but the convoysped away, leaving the Vanzetti to fend for herself.• Children are left to fend for themselves and often get in trouble in the process.• Thereafter they fend for themselves and she is quickly into preparation for her next litter.• Dad always wanted me to be able to fend for myself from a very early age.• The children were left to fend for themselves on the streets.• Young birds are left to fend for themselves soon after they hatch.• So Snow White must fend for herself when she is abandoned by the hunter in the forest.• Now it must fend for itself, without parentalcare.
b)AVOIDto defend yourself from something such as difficult questions, competition, or a situation you do not want to deal with 避开,回避
She uses her secretary to fend off unwanted phone calls.
她让秘书挡掉不想接的电话。
The company managed to fend off the hostile takeover bid.
公司设法避开了恶意收购。
Examples from the Corpus
fend off• Nick was usually so keen to see her she had to fend him off.• Other people who get psoriasis only on knees and elbows may need to fend people off.• She threw up an arm, fending him off.• Despite her woodenleg, she was able to fend him off easily.• He could fend them off, the appallingmoments.• Newman had kept the conversationgeneral, fending Evelyn off when she tried to bring it on a more personalbasis.• He tried to fend the animal off with his elbow while inserting the key in the office door.• The lionmauls the warrior, who is desperately trying to fend him off with his knees and shield.