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), 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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