From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfend somebody/something off phrasal verb1 DEFENDto defend yourself against someone who is attacking you SYN fight somebody ↔ off Tabitha threw up an arm to fend her attacker off.2 AVOIDto defend yourself from something such as difficult questions, competition, or a situation you do not want to deal with She uses her secretary to fend off unwanted phone calls. The company managed to fend off the hostile takeover bid. → fend→ See Verb table
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 wooden leg, she was able to fend him off easily.• He could fend them off, the appalling moments.• Newman had kept the conversation general, fending Evelyn off when she tried to bring it on a more personal basis.• He tried to fend the animal off with his elbow while inserting the key in the office door.• The lion mauls the warrior, who is desperately trying to fend him off with his knees and shield. 