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Collocations for fight - noun

1. struggle using physical force

ADJ.

big | fierce, furious | real
Suddenly the argument developed into a real fight.
good
There''s nothing he likes so much as a good fight.
fair
It was a fair fight and Stephen won.
free
They inadvertently got mixed up in a free fight involving some 20 people.
running
He was killed during a series of running fights outside a disco.
stand-up, straight
In a straight fight the crusaders usually won; in skirmishes, the Saracens often overcame their more numerous opponents.
pub, street | gang | fist | food, pillow, water | championship, title
watching the world title fight between Tyson and Lewis
professional | heavyweight, etc. | bull (also ‘bullfight’), cock, dog

VERB + FIGHT

pick, start
He tried to pick a fight with me. | I don''t know who started the fight.
be looking for, be spoiling for, want
Andy was drunk and spoiling for a fight.
be in, get into, get involved in, get mixed up in, have
Don''t get into any more fights!
break up, stop
The fight was broken up by a teacher.
win | lose | watch

FIGHT + VERB

take place
The dog fights took place every Sunday morning.
break out, erupt, start | ensue
A fight ensued which left one man dead.

PREP.

in a/the ~
He killed a man in a fight.
~ about/over
They nearly had a fight over who should move first.
~ between
fights between police and football fans
~ with
They got involved in a fight with some older boys.

2. trying to get/do sth

ADJ.

brave, good, strong
She died at the age of 43 after a brave fight against cancer.
hard, long, real, tough
a long fight to beat inflation
bitter, desperate | legal

VERB + FIGHT

put up
Coal workers are determined to put up a fight to save their jobs.
lead, spearhead
leading the fight for compensation for the sacked workers
join (in)
Doctors have now joined in the fight to make this treatment available to all.
face
Now he is facing his toughest fight yet - back to fitness after a series of injuries.
be engaged in
He is still engaged in a bitter fight with his old firm.
carry on, continue, keep up
She said they would continue their fight to find a cure for Aids.
step up
The government has vowed to step up the fight against crime.
take
She vowed to take her fight to the High Court.
win | lose
Are we losing the fight against illegal drugs?
give up
She just gave up her fight for life.

FIGHT + VERB

be on
The fight is on to have this brutal practice stamped out.
continue, go on
The fight for justice goes on.

PREP.

without a ~
I''m not giving up without a fight!
~ against
a new weapon in the fight against car crime
~ for
their fight for a fair deal

PHRASES

a fight for life/survival
the firm''s desperate fight for survival in a cut-throat market
have a fight on your hands
Union leaders know that they have got a real fight on their hands.

3. competition

ADJ.

brave, good, great, strong, tremendous | straight

VERB + FIGHT

put up
The team put up a good fight (= they played well) but were finally beaten.

FIGHT + VERB

be on

PREP.

~ between
This will be a straight fight between Labour and the Conservatives: the other parties are nowhere.
~ for
The fight for supremacy in the sport is on.

PHRASES

a fight to the death
(figurative) By 1807 politics had become a fight to the death between the two factions.
a fight to the finish
If the polls are wrong and it''s a fight to the finish, the result may not be known until all the votes have been counted.
have a fight on your hands
She now has a fight on her hands (= will have to play very well) to make it through to the next round.
make a fight of it
No doubt Ferguson wants his team to make a fight of it.

Collocations for fight - verb

1. in a war/battle

ADV.

bravely, gallantly, valiantly | bitterly, hard | back, off

VERB + FIGHT

be prepared to, be ready to
He did not believe that the enemy was ready to fight.
continue to

PREP.

against
They fought bravely against the enemy.
alongside
fighting alongside his comrades
for
They fought for control of the island.
over
fighting over disputed land

2. struggle against/hit sb

ADV.

bitterly, hard | back, off
The jeweller was stabbed as he tried to fight the robbers off.

VERB + FIGHT

be prepared to

PREP.

against
She fought hard against his strong grip.
with
Riot police fought with militants demonstrating in support of the uprising.

3. in a contest

ADV.

bitterly, hard | successfully

VERB + FIGHT

be determined to, be prepared to, be ready to
We need a good manager who is prepared to fight for a fair share of the funds.
continue to

PREP.

for
Regional monopolies were bitterly fought for.

PHRASES

fiercely/keenly fought
The second half was keenly fought, but neither side managed to score.

4. try to stop/achieve sth

ADV.

hard, like a tiger, tooth and nail
(= in a very determined way) He fought hard to overcome his disability. | She''ll fight like a tiger to protect her children. | The residents are fighting tooth and nail to stop the new development.
doggedly, stubbornly, tenaciously | desperately | successfully | back, off
It is time to fight back against street crime.

VERB + FIGHT

be determined to, be prepared to, be ready to, vow to | continue to | help (to)

PREP.

against
They are committed to fighting against racism.
for
fighting for equal rights

5. argue

ADV.

bitterly

PREP.

about
It''s a trivial matter and not worth fighting about.
over
The children will fight over quite small things.
with
He''s always fighting with his brother.

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