fight fires
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see fight, fire.
ADJ
big | fierce, furious
real
The two boys had a real fight over a football during lunch break.
good
The team put up a good fight even though they lost the match in the end.
fair
My brother and I had a fair fight in the garden, and nobody got seriously hurt.
free
A group of teenagers broke up the free fight that started outside the shopping center.
running
The police had to deal with running fights between rival gangs in the neighborhood.
stand-up, straight
The two boxers agreed to have a straight fight without any tricks or dirty moves.
pub, street | gang | fist | food, pillow, water
championship, title
The boxer trained hard for months before his championship fight.
professional | heavyweight, etc. | bull (also bullfight), cock, dog
VERB + FIGHT
pick, start
After drinking too much, he picked a fight with a stranger at the bar.
be looking for, be spoiling for, want
Sarah didn't want a fight, but her opponent seemed determined to start one anyway.
be in, get into, get involved in, get mixed up in, have
My brother had a fight with his best friend over something silly last week.
break up, stop
The police arrived quickly and stopped the fight outside the nightclub.
win | lose | watch
FIGHT + VERB
take place
The boxing match took place in front of thousands of excited fans last night.
break out, erupt, start
ensue
When the two drivers argued about the accident, a heated fight ensued in the middle of the street.
PREP
in a/the ~
Two brothers got injured in a fight at the football match last week.
~ about/over
The two brothers had a terrible fight about money after their father's will was read.
~ between
There was a terrible fight between two neighbors over the garden fence last week.
~ with
My brother had a terrible fight with his best friend over a silly misunderstanding.
ADJ
brave, good, strong
He put up a strong fight against his illness, but he eventually recovered after surgery.
hard, long, real, tough
The team had a tough fight against their rivals in the championship match.
bitter, desperate | legal
VERB + FIGHT
put up
The team put up a good fight, but they lost the match in the final minutes.
lead, spearhead
The environmental group spearheaded the fight against plastic pollution in our city.
join (in)
Environmental groups joined the fight against plastic pollution in our oceans.
face
She is facing a difficult fight to recover from her illness.
be engaged in
She was engaged in a legal fight to get custody of her children.
carry on, continue, keep up
The team decided to keep up their fight against poverty in the community.
step up
The school decided to step up the fight against bullying after several incidents last month.
take
He decided to take his fight against pollution to the local government.
win
lose
She knew her father was losing the fight against cancer, but she remained hopeful.
give up
After years of struggling, he finally gave up the fight against his addiction.
FIGHT + VERB
be on
The fight is on to save the old theater from demolition.
continue, go on
The battle against climate change must continue if we want to protect our planet.
PREP
without a ~
She refused to leave the company without a fight, determined to defend her reputation.
~ against
The government launched a campaign in their fight against pollution in major cities.
~ for
Workers organized a protest to show their fight for better wages and working conditions.
PHRASES
a fight for life/survival
The injured animal's fight for survival in the harsh winter impressed all the wildlife researchers.
have a fight on your hands
The new manager realized she had a real fight on her hands when she tried to change the company's old systems.
ADJ
brave, good, great, strong, tremendous | straight
VERB + FIGHT
put up
The boxer put up a brave fight against his stronger opponent before losing in the final round.
FIGHT + VERB
be on
PREP
~ between
The fight between the two neighbors over the fence lasted for months before they finally agreed to compromise.
~ for
The workers organized a long strike in their fight for better wages and safer conditions.
PHRASES
a fight to the death
The rivalry between the two companies has become a fight to the death for market control.
a fight to the finish
The tennis match was intense, with both players determined to have a fight to the finish.
have a fight on your hands
The new manager will have a fight on her hands trying to improve the struggling department.
make a fight of it
Even though they were losing badly, the players decided to make a fight of it in the second half.
ADV
bravely, gallantly, valiantly | bitterly, hard | back, off
VERB + FIGHT
be prepared to, be ready to
The team was prepared to fight hard for victory in the final match.
continue to
PREP
against
She decided to fight against the new policy that would harm working families.
alongside
She fought alongside her teammates to win the championship last season.
for
The workers are fighting for better pay and working conditions at the factory.
over
My brothers fought over who would get the last slice of pizza.
ADV
bitterly, hard
back, off
She fought back against the bullies who were teasing her younger brother.
VERB + FIGHT
be prepared to
PREP
against
The team fought against all odds to win the championship last season.
with
My brother and I fought with each other over who should use the computer first.
ADV
bitterly, hard | successfully
VERB + FIGHT
be determined to, be prepared to, be ready to
The team was determined to fight for their place in the championship final.
continue to
PREP
for
The labor union fought for better working conditions and higher wages.
PHRASES
fiercely/keenly fought
The election was fiercely fought between the two candidates, with campaigns lasting months.