Fight off
It’s been a while since we’ve done a phrasal verb, and today we have a good one: fight off. We all know what “to fight” means. But to fight off means to fight to defend yourself from something that is attacking you. Your immune system fights off bacteria and viruses all the time. Bacteria are everywhere! They were in the keyboard I used to write this, and all over the microphone I’m using to record it. They’re in your house, on public transportation, on your pets, and the other people in your life are just covered with all kinds of bacteria. That’s usually okay because your body has an immune system that fights off all these bacteria. Your immune system fights to defend you from all kinds of potentially dangerous bacteria. But people who develop AIDS have difficulty fighting off those bacteria. People with AIDS cannot defend themselves against attack from even the most common, everyday bacteria.
Here are a few more examples with “fight off.” A person might fight off an attacker. If someone comes at you on the street, trying to rob you, it’s probably best to just give that person what they want. But if you’re brave and you think you can, you might try to fight off the attacker. You might try to defend yourself forcefully from that attack; defend yourself by fighting. Here’s a headline I saw in the news: A grandmother used a scooter to fight off masked attackers. Maybe it was one of those electric scooters we talked about in Episode 47. Regardless, good for her!
In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in trouble. There will be elections in October of this year and Trudeau will have to fight off the Conservative Party if he wants to stay in power. He has been beset by a number of scandals lately, so the opposition party will be going after him. He’ll try to fight off the challenge and stay in office in the elections later this year.
There was a surfer in the US state of Oregon who was out to catch some early morning waves this month, when he encountered a shark that was headed his way. Luckily, he was able to fight off the shark. He hit the shark over the head with his surf board and then swam for dear life. Fortunately, he got back to shore unharmed. His surf board was another story: the shark’s bite marks were still in it, and it was cracked where he smacked it over the shark’s head. Good thing he was able to fight off that attacking shark.
That is one lucky surfer. And on that note, we will wrap up for today. Thanks for being part of the best audience in the world! You really are, and I really do love hearing from you on WhatsApp, especially when you send voice messages. Don’t be shy. +1 312 967 8757 And remember the number one rule: no apologizing for your English!
Thanks again for being with us, and we’ll see you back here on Monday. Here’s a hint. A lot of you liked the Toronto episode. Monday’s episode is also about a place—a very special place from my childhood. I bet you’ll like it. See ya then.
Use realistic expressions like a native speaker
