From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfight a rearguard actionfight a rearguard actiona) STOP something THAT IS HAPPENINGto make a determined effort to prevent a change that you think is bad, although it seems too late to stop it They have been fighting a rearguard action to stop a supermarket being built on the land. b) PMif an army fights a rearguard action, it defends itself at the back against an enemy that is chasing it → rearguard
Examples from the Corpus
fight a rearguard action• A rearguard action is being fought against the sale of the land for business development.• With their captain and inspiration, Roy Aitken, suspended, Saints seemed to have come prepared to fight a rearguard action. 