put up a fight
The phrase "put up a fight" is commonly used to describe acts of resistance, whether physical or verbal, against an adversary or unwanted situation.
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Definition
B2General
(informal)To resist or struggle against something with determination.
Example
- Despite the odds, they put up a fight and refused to surrender.
B2Arguments and Disputes
(informal)To make a strong effort to defend oneself or one's position in a disagreement.
Example
- She put up a fight when her boss tried to change her project deadline.
B2Physical Confrontation
(informal)To engage in a physical struggle to oppose an attacker.
Example
- He put up a fight when the mugger tried to steal his wallet.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "put up a fight":
fight upfight a losing battleput up one's dukesfight backfight for one's lifetake up the cudgelsstand up tofight to the deathput upduke it outstand one's groundfight offnut upante upplay fightstick to one's gunsput one's hands upman upcome to blowshold outknuckle upbear updig one's heels in