fending off

USC quarterback Miller Moss went from fending off calls for him to be benched to directing the Trojans’ dominant offensive play against Rutgers.

Without U.S. support, the island of 23 million has little chance of fending off a Chinese military assault.

The remarks come as Newsom has been fending off growing criticism about the homelessness crisis plaguing the state and rebukes a portrayal by conservative critics of an out-of-control liberal bastion.

Key to the role was fending off currency market speculators that could trigger turmoil in one of the world's largest economies.

Sri Lanka were scrambled and Stone played his part by fending off bouncers.