From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfend for yourselffend for yourselfINDEPENDENT PERSONto look after yourself without needing help from other people The kids had to fend for themselves while their parents were away. → fend
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 mother died 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 captain radioed for assistance, but the convoy sped 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 parental care. 