fight back

fight (one's) way back to (something or some place)

1. To struggle or use force to return to some place, position, or thing. The party was so packed with people that I had to fight my way back to where my friends were talking. We had to fight our way through the crowd to board the train on time.
2. To struggle to return to some condition or state. The political candidate will have to fight her way back to the top of the polls. After a devastating civil war, the country has to fight its way back to a position of stability and prosperity.
See also: back, fight, way

fight back

To act in one's self-defense, either verbally or physically. If that bully confronts you again, you need to fight back. They were tearing my story to shreds—I had to fight back!
See also: back, fight
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fight back (at someone or something)

to defend oneself against someone or something; to retaliate against someone or something. You are going to have to fight back at them. You can't expect us to defend you. It's hard for me to fight back against three of them by myself.
See also: back, fight
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • fight (one's) way back to (something or some place)
  • fight through
  • fight
  • fight (one's way) through
  • elbow (one's) way
  • elbow (one's way) through
  • be packed (in) like sardines
  • packed
  • sardine
  • struggle
References in periodicals archive
Cheryse Longstaff of Fight Back UK, an events organisation to help raise money for charities 230514FIGHT_03 PETER REIMANN
Fight Back is being made by Goliath Productions, and filming begins in January.
If you suspect racial bias when applying for a mortgage loan, refinancing or home improvement, here are a few tips and resources on how to fight back:
City defender Pablo Zabaleta praised the team's character in finding a way back to fight back at Celtic Park on three different occasions.
Trailing the North Africans 0-3 at the end of the second period, the UAE did well to fight back and equalise midway through the final period.
Boro hosted the previously unbeated side last Saturday and found themselves 2-0 down inside the first 15 minutes, but they began to fight back and Cataland star Maiol Giralt reduced the deficit shortly before half-time.
Detective Sergeant Jim Edmonds, from West Midlands Police, said: "The victim showed great courage to fight back and did exactly the right thing in contacting police immediately so we were able to seize all forensic opportunities.
I knew I had to fight back or, better yet, attack them first to show heart.
The character to fight back once they equalised was strong and we fought to the end."
DARTS World No1 Phil Taylor has issued a stark warning to his rivals ahead of the PDC World Darts Championship by declaring: "I've got the fight back in me".
PAKISTAN cricket coach Bob Woolmer was poisoned before being strangled, apparently rendering him unable to fight back, a BBC 1 programme says tonight.
However, instead of targeting a compliant victim, Kensler had inadvertently chosen a victim who was willing to fight back and who had a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
Fight Back! Fight AIDS!" The entire crowd was on its feet.
We need to resist, to fight back, to take control of the direction our lives go.
However, the new survey, published in Cosmopolitan magazine, said victims who resisted but couldn't get away generally suffered no more serious injuries than those who didn't fight back.