Battle Fought Fight People ˈbætl Running Difficult Police

• napoleon was defeated at the battle of waterloo.
• his father had been killed in battle.
• to go into battle
• hundreds of protesters fought running battles with the police.

battle

1. a fight between armies, ships or planes, especially during a war; a violent fight between groups of people
• SEE ALSO pitched battle
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/pitched-battle
• Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.
• His father had been killed in battle.
• to go into battle
• Hundreds of protesters fought running battles with the police.
• In 1817 Bolivar won a series of battles against Spanish forces.
• It ended in a gun battle between police and drug smugglers.

Extra Examples

• He died in battle.
• Many young men were sent into battle without proper training.
• The film has all the usual car chases and gun battles.
• The battle between police and demonstrators continued for several hours.
• Charles V refused to give battle.
• Iwo Jima was for many the climactic battle of World War II.
• The leaders anxiously watched the battle unfold.
• The squadron was getting ready for the coming battle.
• The battle claimed the lives of three soldiers and 40 guerrillas.
• Police fought a pitched battle against demonstrators.
• Scores of people have been hurt in running battles with police.
2. a competition, an argument or a struggle between people or groups of people trying to win power or control
• She finally won her six-year battle for compensation.
• They are engaged in a legal battle with their competitors.
• He faces an uphill battle against a hostile press.
• a battle of wits (= when each side uses their ability to think quickly to try to win)
• a battle of wills (= when each side is very determined to win)
• the battle of the sexes
• The essay discusses the endless battle between man and nature.
• The government now faces a new battle over tax increases.

Extra Examples

• A policy battle is raging in Washington.
• A ten-month legal battle ensued.
• She saw a way to end the prolonged legal battle.
• The college president fought a running battle with the editors of the student newspaper.
• The upcoming political battle could be for the allegiance of the young.
• There's now a real battle at the top of the First Division.
• A turf battle among competing drug cartels has claimed several lives.
• There followed a fierce battle between developers and the local community.
• There is set to be a heated battle between the oil industry and environmentalists.
• He had been conducting a personal battle of wits with the sales manager since his first day at work.
• Looking after a two-year-old needn't be a constant battle of wills.
• As a parent, you have to pick your battles.
3. a determined effort that somebody makes to solve a difficult problem or succeed in a difficult situation
• She finally lost her long battle against cancer.
• He has fought an uphill battle against prejudice.
• Her life had become a battle for survival.
• the battle for human rights
• his battle with alcoholism
• They have been at the forefront of the battle to save the hospital.
4. used to say that people or groups have shown which side they intend to support in an argument or contest that is going to begin
5. to fight or argue with somebody
• He was quite prepared to do battle with his boss over his promotion.
• Are you prepared to do battle with your insurance company over the claim?
6. to be able to win an argument or get what you want without anyone’s help
• I wouldn't get involved—he's old enough to fight his own battles.
• My parents believed in leaving me to fight my own battles.
7. the most important or difficult part of achieving something
• When you’ve got a difficult day ahead, getting a good night’s sleep is often half the battle.
8. to begin fighting somebody
• The two armies joined battle.
• Local residents have joined battle with the council over the lack of parking facilities.
9. (to try to do) something that you will probably never succeed in doing
• I’m fighting a losing battle against the mess in this house!
• She wanted him to take some responsibility for his actions, but she knew it was a losing battle.

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French bataille (noun), bataillier (verb), based on late Latin battualia ‘military or gladiatorial exercises’, from Latin battuere ‘to beat’.