fight, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

fight v.

SE in slang uses

In compounds

fight-water (n.) [the effect]

(Can.) a spirit.

1984

Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 389/2: late C.19–early 20.

In phrases

fight at the leg (v.)

see under leg n.

fight booty (v.)

see play booty under booty n.¹

fight in armour (v.)

see armour n. (1)

fight nob work (v.) [? to act like a nob n.² (1)]

(UK Und.) to succeed without working in the respectable world.

1812

Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. in McLachlan (1964) 254: To act with such prudence and knowledge of the world, as to prosper and become independent without any labour or bodily extertion; this is termed [...] fighting nob work.

fight off (v.) (also fight up with)

(W.I.) to attack with unexpected aggression.

1996

Allsopp Dict. Carib. Eng. Usage.

fight the tiger (v.)

see buck the tiger under tiger n.

fight up oneself/with (v.)

(W.I.) to struggle for survival.

1979

cited in Allsopp Dict. Carib. Eng. Usage (1996).

fight with the nails on your toes (v.) (also fight with your own toenails)

(Irish) to be obsessively, continually aggressive.

1995		RTÉ Radio The GB Show 1 Nov. She says she knows you and the two of you would fight with your own toenails [BS].
1995		S. Connaughton Border Diary n.p.: ‘Do you know what it is you’d fight with the nails on your toes.’ ‘Only when I’d be done stamping on yours’ [BS].