Allan fought off stiff competition from throughout the UK to win one of only four places at the college.3 to try hard to get rid of something, especially an illness or a feeling: Elaine's fighting off a cold.fight something out phrasal verb to argue or fight until a disagreement is settled: We left them to fight it out.WORD FOCUS: argue WORD FOCUS: argue synonyms: fight, quarrel, have a row Britis